FG bows to NLC pressure, sets up committee to review fuel price

FG bows to NLC pressure, sets up
committee to review fuel price

– Reports say new development will also put minimum
wage into consideration
– NLC states, however, that it does not affect proposed
industrial action
– Abuja faction set to commence protests by 8am
The federal government may have bowed to pressure
from the Nigeria Labour Union (NLC) as it has agreed to
review the pump price of petrol.
The Cable reports that this was resolution after a two-
day meeting with the labour leaders which ended on
Tuesday night.
Reports say the federal government has now set up a
new committee to review the new pump price of petrol
and the national minimum wage.
It was gathered also, that this committee will work with
the Joe Ajaero-led faction of the NLC with a view to
adjusting the current N18,000 minimum wage.
This new development does not in anyway stop the
proposed industrial action by the NLC, though, as
the Ayuba Wabba-led faction has vowed to go ahead
with the proposed strike in spite of the court injunction
against them.
The protest is expected to kick off at about 8am on
Wednesday in Abuja at the union’s secretariat.
The union’s head of information, Benson Upah, also
categorically told The Cable that: “NLC’s position has
not shifted. The strike will go on tomorrow.
“Quote me the strike will go on tomorrow.”
Meanwhile, The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties
(CNPP) has asked Nigerians masses and civil to ignore
the labour unions and protest against the increment of
pump price of petrol.
The CNPP in a statement issued on Tuesday, which was
jointly signed by its national chairman, Alhaji Balarabe
Musa and the secretary general, Chief Willy Ezugwu,
also accused both the federal government and the
labour unions of insincerity in the matter.
The statement made available to NAIJ.com reads: “We
are taken aback that the federal government could
hurriedly obtain a judgment from the Industrial Court,
with readiness to enforce same overnight while the
government is yet to obey many other court orders
against it.
“For instance, the PRP was deregistered as a political
party by the Indepedent National Electoral commission
(INEC) and a court of competent jurisdiction ordered its
re-registration but the INEC is yet to obey the order.
“Today, the federal government selects which court
judgment to obey and the ones against it are
discountenanced.