Subsidy Palliatives: Labour, FG Resume Negotiation

* NLC president absent

Deji Elumoye in Abuja 

The Presidential Steering Committee on Palliatives made up of labour leaders and Federal Government officials Tuesday  resumed meeting after the adjournment on Monday to listen to President Bola Tinubu’s nationwide broadcast.

President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, is, however, absent at the meeting which began at about 3.10pm.

The NLC delegation is led by its General Secretary, Comrade Emma Ugbaja, while the Trade Union Congress (TUC) is led by its President, Festus Osifo.

On the government side are the Chief of Staff to the President, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila; the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Kachollom Daju; the Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Olu Verheijen; the Director, Budget, Ben Akubeze; and the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, among others.

The meeting, which is taking place at the Conference Hall of the Chief of Staff to the President, is expected to receive briefings from the sub-committees on mass transit, CNG, and conditional cash transfer.

It is also expected to consider the planned protest by the NLC expected to hold on Wednesday.

The committee, comprising the leadership of the NLC, TUC and the Federal Government team, was set up by government to consider the proposed palliatives for workers to cushion the effect of the removal of petrol subsidy that has caused hardship to many Nigerians.