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Parley on fuel prices
collapses
By
Sunny Igboanugo
Victor
Ebimomi (Lagos),
Paul
Mumeh and Onyekachi Eze (Abuja)
A
parley convened by conference of 36 state governors to persuade the
Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to shelve the proposed November 16, strike
over the increase in the prices of petroleum products collapsed in Abuja
Tuesday as the labour insisted the exercise is irrevocable.
Emerging
from the over five hours parley with the state governors led by Obong
Victor Attah of Akwa Ibom State NLC President Adams Oshiomole told
reporters labour was not convinced it should shelve the strike �because
government is not sincere.�
�Our
grievances are clear, this price regime is oppressive it is not
affordable, it will destroy the economy and do violent to business, it
must be reversed, Oshiomole stated.
He
added that the price regime if allowed to stay will lead to more
unemployment, because many people would be thrown out of job and crime
rate will definitely rise.
Oshiomole
dismissed the insinuation that labour was sabotaging government efforts,
saying �we have demonstrated enough commitment to dialogue. It takes more
than a willing party to dialogue.�
He
said labour opted out of Deputy Senate President Ibrahim Mantu�s
palliative committee because its recommendations were thrown to the
dustbin by Mr. President on the premise that the committee has no mandate
to discuss prices of fuel.
Oshiomole
noted that labour became curious when the Petroleum Product Pricing and
Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) an agency charged with the responsibility of
fixing prices was excluded from the palliative committee �what are we
talking about if prices are not to be discussed, we see no justification
when the main issue is no go area�, Oshiomole stressed.
Scores
of governors who attended the midnight parley held behind closed doors at
Nicon Hilton Hotel were Attah, Chris Ngige (Anambra) Segun Agagu (Ondo)
Ibrahim Idris (Kogi), Ahmed Shekarau (Kano), Achike Udenwa (Imo), Femi
Pedro, deputy governor (Lagos), among others.
As
the D-day for the nationwide strike slated for November 16 draws near, one
of the most strategic affiliates of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the
National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees
(NUBIFIE) is seeking approval from banks to call out their workers to join
the action.
NLC
National Executive Council (NEC) will meet today in Uyo to take crucial
decisions about the strike, just as the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria
(TUC) has intensified its mobilisation for the same cause.
TUC
Secretary General John Kolawole disclosed that the congress met on Monday
to fine-tune its strategies. �We are very prepared for the strike and the
date still remains. The affiliates are in high mood�, he
insisted.
But
the government remains unhappy about another round of industrial action
and has threatened not to pay civil servants who join the
protest.
The
private sector too has warned of the negative impact of the strike on the
economy.
Regardless,
NUBIFIE General Secretary Muhammad Mamman said mobilisation for the
protest is in top gear and that signals have been sent to members to
adhere strictly to Labour directives.
According
to him, the banks have been notified of the plans and the union is
awaiting their response.
He
added that the banks employers� association has equally been informed �and
they have shown understanding�.
But
Registrar and Chief Executive of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of
Nigeria (CIBN) said on Monday night that they have not received any
notification letter from NUBIFIE.
�We
have sent signals to members nationwide to stay at home as from November
16 as directed by the Nigeria Labour Congress. We have also notified the
Nigeria Employers Association of Banks, Insurance and Allied Institutions
(NEABIAI) to advise all the banks� managements to suspend operations
because the situation at that time may not guarantee safety of funds, and
they are cooperating with us�, Mamman said.
He
condemned government position of �no work no pay� or outright sack,
stressed that no amount of intimidation can cow the workers, and implored
well-meaning Nigerians to prevail on the government to listen to the
wishes of the masses in the interest of peace and progress.
However,
Labour has been reminded of the grave consequences of the action on the
economy.
Both
the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) and the
Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) urged the NLC return to the
Palliative Committee to resume discussions.
An
apprehensive government is using intimidation to dissuade civil servants
from taking part in the strike.
Secretary
to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Ufot Ekaette, in a circular
issued in Abuja on Monday, directed ministers, permanent secretaries,
directors-general, heads of extra-ministerial departments and chief
executives of government agencies and government-owned companies to invoke
the �no work no pay� rule against employees who absent themselves from
work to join the action.
Ekaette
accused the NLC of attempting to violate a subsisting court order and of
being unmindful of the cushioning measures approved by government as well
as the ongoing efforts of the Independent Committee for Cushioning
Measures to find lasting solutions to the issues involved.
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