The Senate on Tuesday beat the one-week ultimatum given by the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress for a parley towards resolving the effects of the fuel subsidy removal on Nigerians by the Federal Government.
President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, Tuesday led some Principal Officers of the Senate, to receive the leadership of the unions led by their presidents, Comrades Joe Ajaero and Festus Osifo, respectively.
The Unions had last week met with Principal Officers led by the Senate Chief Whip, Ali Ndume, when they marched to the National Assembly to protest the fuel subsidy removal, and handed out the one week ultimatum for a parley over the situation.
During the meeting Tuwsday, the President of the NLC, comrade Ajero explained that the meeting was important, following the need for the legislative arm of the government to intervene in the discussions between the unions and the Executive Arm of the government towards ameliorating the sufferings of Nigerians due to the fuel subsidy removal by the government without adequate preparations to cushion the effects.
He also recounted how the government had been dragging all agreements entered into with the labour unions since ages, pointing out that they decided to approach the legislative arm so as for her to add voice to the sufferings of Nigerians before the executive arm,to avoid catastrophe.
” His Excellency, Distinguished Senate President sir,we are here to appeal for your support in intervening between labour union discussions and the federal government. As representatives of the people, I’m sure you feel the pains of the people you represent. Our members are suffering, owing to the laziness of the federal government to implement the palliatives it rolled out to cushion the effects of the Oil subsidy removal on Nigerians.
” The wages of the workers should be looked at with more urgency. Everyone of us here knows that the minimum wage of 30,000 naira is too meagre to carry someone through in the country,so that has to be changed as quickly as possible”, he said.
On his part, Festus Osifo,the President of the Trade Union Congress appealed to the Senate to cut down on their earnings as a show of respect and sacrifice, for the sake of the survival of the people that are representing,that groan in difficulties.
He recounted how his friend, Musa who lives in Mararaba, a suburb of Abuja leaves house by 5am every work day to trek for a while before entering public transport, with a view to reducing the transport cost on him yet he earns 30,000 naira as minimum wage.
Comrade Osifo urged the legislative branch to,as a matter of urgency ” do the needful,so they can earn the peoples confidence to avoid the we and them situation”.
In his response, the senate assured them of its readiness to partner with the labour unions to proffer lasting solution to the perennial trade disputes in the country, through the enactment of laws that would bring back smiles on the faces of the workers and Nigerians.
Speaking, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio also thanked the labour unions for their understanding of the predicament of “our government which is just two months old and faced with alot of challenges”, even as he promised that the government is not sleeping but working assiduously to enhance the situation of Nigerians.
