According to organized labor, Femi Gbajabiamila, the President’s Chief of Staff, is unfit to lead the federal government’s team in negotiations with the labor unions on remedies for subsidy elimination.
This was announced by Joe Ajaero, national president of the Nigeria Labour Congress, when the heads of the labor unions went to the Senate on Tuesday in Abuja.
He added that after two months after the elimination of fuel subsidies, President Bola Tinubu’s pay award committee has yet to convene because the chief of staff has been too busy to call for a meeting.
To meet with the leadership, the labor leaders were in the Senate.
In a resolution passed two weeks ago, the Senate agreed to meet with the labor unions to discuss a palliative for subsidy elimination.
Ajaero said,
“Part of our challenge is the issue of the committee put in place, the committee seems not to be capable, as 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 had the Chief of Staff to the President 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.”
Ajaero added, “We had agreed on wage award, and up till this moment the committee on wage award is yet to sit, “
The NLC President while speaking during the meeting with Senate leadership lamented the plight of Nigerians as a result of the removal of fuel subsidy.
He said the government had yet to put structures on the ground to ameliorate the effect in the country.
He told the lawmakers that while labour leaders were still deliberating on N537 per litre of fuel and Court had ruled for the status quo to remain, the government suddenly decided to increase the fuel to N620 per litre.
NLC president stated,
“Nothing is yet to happen on the issue of $800m projected to be borrowed, we have not perfected the list of the people who will benefit from it.