Ebun Francis| Representatives of labour unions in the country on Sunday walk-out from a meeting with the federal government, barely five minutes after it started.
The president of the Trade Union Congress, Quadri Olaleye, who spoke to newsmen shortly after the walk-out said on the meeting’s top agenda were the issues surrounding the hike in the price of fuel and electricity tariffs.
In his opening remarks before the closed-door session, Olaleye accused the federal government of dishonesty, playing to the gallery and painting the organised labour in a bad light before civil servants and the public.
The Nigerian Labour Congress was represented by its deputy president, Najeem Yasin.
Olaleye said, “This meeting is not going to be as usual.”
“Why, because we have seen the insincerity of government and it’s putting us at risk. They are taking us for a ride, which cannot continue.
“We are in the process of discussing, for over three months now. And they made announcement increasing the fuel price again. And no other person than NNPC. When has authority been giving to NNPC to increase the price of PMS? This is unacceptable.
“The meeting agenda is not well prioritised. And because of that, we are leaving the meeting. We will not continue, we will go back to our organ, and we are going to get back to you on the next line of action.”
The federal government were represented by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, the Minister of State for Labour, Festus Keyamo, Minister of State for Petroleum, Timiprye Sylva, Minister of state for power, Goddy Agba and the Secretary to the Government, Boss Mustapha.
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