Palliatives : Labour leaders stage walkout of meeting with govt

Palliatives : Labour leaders stage walkout of meeting with govt 

Representatives of the organised labour on Friday staged a walkout of a meeting with the government team under the Presidential Steering Committee on Subsidy Palliatives.

The Nigeria Labour Congress’ delegation, led by its President, Joe Ajaero, arrived at the Chief of Staff’s Conference Room 5pm but left shortly after, citing the absence of key members of the government team.

The labour group accused the Federal Government of using the meeting as a pretext to deceive Nigerians.

They said the government officials, who are members of the subcommittees were absent at the meeting.

A source at the meeting confirmed that three subcommittees, the Mass Transit, the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Cash transfer, were supposed to brief the Steering Committee on the measures put in place to cushion the effect of the fuel subsidy removal on the workers.

A member of the labour team, who spoke on condition of anonymity to journalists, said government was not prepared for the meeting.

He added that the government’s representatives were insisting the meeting should proceed even though no quorum was formed.

“They are not prepared for the meeting. That’s the truth. They are using it to deceive Nigerians.

“In their introductory remarks they made excuses and they wanted the meeting to continue. The meeting did not form a quorum. We are a people that operate on the basis of process. So, if there’s no quorum in a meeting what do you do? You will adjourn for lack of quorum.”