L
LequteMan
Guest
The General Secretary of the NLC, Mr Peter Ozo-Ezon, has confirmed that leaders of labour unions in the country held a meeting with Nigeria's Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, before the announcement of the fuel price increase.
“What happened was that on Tuesday at about 4PM, we received a letter from the office of the Vice President, inviting the President of the NLC to what was termed a consultative meeting," he said at a program on Channels TV.
“No subject matter was indicated and the meeting was scheduled for 12noon on Wednesday.
“Because the President was out on official duty, I went to the congress. The TUC President was also there and the President of NUPENG was also there. Those were the three representatives from Labour.
“There were senators, there were members of the House, there were some governors and on the spot was when we knew what the matter was.
“It was to receive a presentation from the honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and he made a presentation in which he was canvassing for total deregulation, abolition of subsidy and all that.
“At the end of it, there were those who made comments, mainly those from the National Assembly; some cautioning, some advising and some asking other questions.
“The Vice President then specifically called on us one by one by name – the three of us, and what we told the Vice President was that we had just received that presentation and since we represented democratic institutions, we would take the presentation and discuss it at our organs and we will get back to government on our position.
“That was all that happened at the meeting. No decision was taken.
“So when the Minister was quoted to have said that we were part of a meeting that took that decision, then he was clearly not truthful about that and I think government needs to be truthful in putting facts before citizens,” Mr Ozo-Ezon said.
According to him, the announcement of a new petrol pump price band of 135 to 145 Naira as the “worst approach that any government has taken” in the history of the country.
He added that the decision will lead to further depreciation of the naira against the dollar, spelling hardship for the common man.
“What happened was that on Tuesday at about 4PM, we received a letter from the office of the Vice President, inviting the President of the NLC to what was termed a consultative meeting," he said at a program on Channels TV.
“No subject matter was indicated and the meeting was scheduled for 12noon on Wednesday.
“Because the President was out on official duty, I went to the congress. The TUC President was also there and the President of NUPENG was also there. Those were the three representatives from Labour.
“There were senators, there were members of the House, there were some governors and on the spot was when we knew what the matter was.
“It was to receive a presentation from the honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and he made a presentation in which he was canvassing for total deregulation, abolition of subsidy and all that.
“At the end of it, there were those who made comments, mainly those from the National Assembly; some cautioning, some advising and some asking other questions.
“The Vice President then specifically called on us one by one by name – the three of us, and what we told the Vice President was that we had just received that presentation and since we represented democratic institutions, we would take the presentation and discuss it at our organs and we will get back to government on our position.
“That was all that happened at the meeting. No decision was taken.
“So when the Minister was quoted to have said that we were part of a meeting that took that decision, then he was clearly not truthful about that and I think government needs to be truthful in putting facts before citizens,” Mr Ozo-Ezon said.
According to him, the announcement of a new petrol pump price band of 135 to 145 Naira as the “worst approach that any government has taken” in the history of the country.
He added that the decision will lead to further depreciation of the naira against the dollar, spelling hardship for the common man.
