*As delegation storm out of subsidy palliatives meeting
The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) President, Joe Ajero, and the General Secretary of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) , Nuhu Toro, led organised labour out of the meeting with the federal government shortly after they were scheduled to arrive at the villa, Abuja.
They 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.
Outside the meeting room, 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 had insisted on holding their scheduled nationwide protest on August 2nd.
One of the Labour leaders said: “They are using cover to deceive Nigerians. There are supposed to be three subcommittees: Mass Transit Sub-committee, the CNG Sub-committee, and the Cash Transfer Sub-committee, 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 to 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.
They eventually made it to the venue, the Conference Room of the Chief of Staff to the President, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila.
He was not there, but he was said to have been waiting for the labour union leaders to come while the confusion at the entrance gate persisted.
The Labour leaders had met the Special Adviser on the Energy Sector, Olu Verheijen, waiting in the room.
But while she was trying to alert the Chief of Staff to come to the meeting room, the Labour leaders walked out, according to reports from the State House.
