The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress has given the reasons for the breakdown of negotiations between Labour and the Federal Government over the ongoing strike action.
Labour had threatened to go on strike if the government does not reverse the hike in fuel price from N86.50 to N146.
A meeting called by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal ended in deadlock on Tuesday night as representatives of Labour staged a walk out.
According to NLC, government’s insensitivity and unbending attitude were responsible for the unsuccessful negotiations.
The NLC said government refused to even consider its demand for a reversal of the price hike, and an earlier increase in electricity tariffs.
Labour was represented at the meeting by NLC boss, Ayuba Wabba, who led representatives of affiliate groups including Trade Union Congress, TUC, and civil society organisations.
Sources told Thinkers Newspaper that the meeting was less than an hour before Labour leaders walked out in anger.
“The talks with government broke down because it was not ready to address the issues the NLC placed on the table for discussion; so we left,” the General Secretary of NLC, Peter Ozo-Eson said.
“The demands the NLC and its affiliates made formally in writing on Saturday were that government should first revert to the fuel price of N86.50 per litre before any other decision.
“Again, we demanded that the electricity tariff imposed on the people last January should also be reversed. But, government said they were not ready to discuss such things.
“They said they wanted to discuss minimum wage and palliatives. But, those were not issues we were ready to start any discussion with,” he added.
