From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) President, Joe Ajero, and the General Secretary of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) , Nuhu Toro, on Friday led Organised Labour out of a scheduled meeting with the Federal Government.
The labour officials were to meet with the Presidential Steering Committee, which was established in June to discuss palliative measures, among other things, to mitigate the effects of the subsidy removal that had worsened the socio-economic well-being of Nigerians, especially workers.
Off-camera, the Labour representatives voiced their unhappiness and accused the government of ignoring their concerns.
After the last meeting between the government and organised labour on Wednesday, the NLC and TUC insisted on holding their scheduled nationwide protest on August 2nd.
One of the Labour leaders who spoke randomly, said: “They are using cover to deceive Nigerians. There are supposed to be three subcommittees, mass transit subcommittee, the CNG, and the cash transfer, to brief us, the steering committee but government was not prepared for the meeting.
“In their introductory remarks they made excuses and they wanted the meeting to continue, the meeting did not form a quorum. If there is no 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.
“There was nobody to meet with. The Chief of Staff was not there, they are taking us like small children.”
The union leaders had complained that because their names were allegedly not on the visitors list for security clearance, they were made to wait a very long time at the State House main entrance gate.