The Federal Government and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have made progress on the negotiations toward resolving dispute over the removal of fuel subsidy.
The Federal Government team and that of TUC led by its President, Comrade Festus Osifo met on Sunday in a meeting that started at about 4pm and ended around 7.30pm.
Addressing the State House Press Corps after the meeting, Dele Alake who is part of the Government negotiation team boldly said much progress has been made in the talks with the TUC leaders.
He revealed that a major demand from TUC is wage increase for workers to accommodate the burden of rising cost of living the subsidy removal will bring.
Alake noted that the Federal Government is not averse to wage increase as President Bola Tinubu himself had hinted on that during his meeting with governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday.
The leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), led by Joe Ajaero didn’t attend the Sunday meeting with government team that had Wale Edun, Olayemi Cardoso.
Others are, Group Managing Director of NNPCL, Mele Kyari, Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, labour leader and former Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole among others in attendance.
Alake said the meeting with TUC will resume on Tuesday after further consultations by both sides to firm up resolutions.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress NLC threatened to embark on a nationwide strike on Wednesday June 7, 2023.
NLC who specifically cautioned that it would not go back on its decision to withdraw its services should the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited fail to reverse the increase of the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to N184 per litre.
NLC took the decision during an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Friday (today) to deliberate on the recent increment in the pump price of PMS, also known as petrol.
The meeting which commenced a few minutes past 12 pm was attended by executive members of the affiliate unions of the congress.
The trade union group had kicked against the removal of the fuel subsidy announced by President Bola Tinubu on Monday, May 29, while delivering his inaugural speech.