NLC at NASS kicks against Gbaja’s headship, says he’s ‘too busy’ to call meeting
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Labour has rejected Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, as the head of government’s negotiation with trade unions on subsidy removal palliatives.
Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President Joe Ajaero announced the objection when he, his officials, and Trade Union Congress (TUC) officials visited the Senate in Abuja on Tuesday.
Gbajabiamila is also in the bad books of the Academic Union of Universities (ASUU) for allegedly washing his hands off the agreement he had with striking lecturers when he was House of Representatives Speaker, a deal former President Muhammadu Buhari also ignored.
Ajaero said Gbajabiamila has been too busy to hold a meeting with the NLC, and Tinubu’s wage award committee has yet to sit more than two months after fuel subsidy removal on May 29.
NLC leaders were in the Senate to honour a resolution the Chamber passed two weeks ago to meet with labour unions on fuel subsidy removal palliative.
“Part of our challenge is the issue of the committee put in place, the committee seems not to be capable,” Ajaero told the lawmakers.
“As a labour union, we have done negotiation and engagement with the government, from the time of the Secretary to the General of the Federation under ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo, Ufot Ekaette, during BabaGana Kingibe, Pius Ayim and Boss Mustapha.
“At no time has the Chief of Staff to the President [Gbajabiamila], who is very busy, called to negotiate or lead negotiations.
“And that has delayed the issues, even since after our protest. Another meeting has not reconvened, although the President promised that he will restructure the mechanism of engagement with government to help things to be treated fast.
“We had agreed on wage award, [but] up till this moment the committee on wage award is yet to sit.”
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Plight of citizens inflicted by lack of subsidy removal palliatives
Ajaero reiterated the plight of Nigerians as a result of the removal of fuel subsidy, lamenting Abuja has not put structures on the ground to ameliorate the impact of subsidy removal on citizens,” according to reporting by The PUNCH.
He said while labour leaders were still deliberating on N537 per litre fuel price and a court had ruled for the status quo to remain, the government suddenly increased the price to N620.
“Nothing is yet to happen on the issue of $800 million projected to be borrowed, we have not perfected the list of the people who will benefit from it,” Ajaero moaned.
Trade Union Congress (TUC) President Festus Usifo lamented the snail-speed at which Aso Rock is tackling subsidy removal palliative.
“The government said they will create alternatives and palliatives, it’s over two months, and there is no sense of urgency,” he complained.
“3,000 buses are too few. If the government has saved N1 trillion in two months why can’t the government channel this money to tackle these alternatives.”
After the closed-door session with the lawmakers, Usifo disclosed the Senate leadership assured the unions they would meet with Tinubu and get problems solved in a few days.
“At the meeting [with Senators], we put our agenda forward and those things we said to them the last time we came here.
“The Senate has promised to take up the issue with the President. What we want is action and we believe that in a few days, that would be answered. There was no ultimatum given to the Senate,” he stressed.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio expressed appreciation to organised labour for their patience and understanding to assist the government.
Said he: “The President told you that he had saved N1 trillion in two months but did not that tell you the fact that he inherited over N30 trillion [debt] which is running into more when you put together both the local and foreign debts.
“Even when you save money and there is a lot of debt on the ground, you’d realise that the money would not be able to take care of so much.”
Akpabio assured labour unions of partnership and promised to liaise with the executive to ameliorate the suffering of Nigerians.