Gombe Govt parleys NLC ahead of fuel subsidy removal strike
…begs workers on effect of stoppage of essential services to the people
The Gombe State Government has called an emergency meeting with the state chapter of Nigeria Labour Congress ahead of the impending national industrial strike informed by the removal of oil subsidy in the country.
The meeting presided over by the Deputy Governor, Manassah Jatau, at the conference Hall of the Deputy Governor’s Office was aimed at taking proactive measures to ensure the cordial relationship between the Government, and the Labour Congress and provision of essential services are not disrupted.
The Deputy Governor noted that, the removal of the oil subsidy was already implemented by the outgone government and not by the present Government of President Bola Tinubu stressing that the move to withdraw the subsidy started as far back as 2022.
He explained that, the Government had to implement the policy because, only a few Nigerians are benefiting from the subsidy.
In order to assuage the grievances of the labour congress, the Deputy Governor took time to explain the incidence when, the then Member House of Representatives, Faruk Lawan, was implicated for bribery scandal and had to go to prison because of exempting Otedola’s Company from the list of those who claimed to bring oil to the country but did not.
The Deputy Governor said he went memory lane to remind them of the real beneficiaries of the subsidy adding that, during one of the Governors’ forum meetings recently they had agreed that, the subsidy on oil should be withdrawn because it is not to the best interest of Nigerian Masses.
He said, “all the Governors across the country condemned the hike of fuel prices. For the prices of fuel to be increased immediately after the announcement of the fuel subsidy Removal even when the suppliers still have the old stock shows we are enemies of ourselves.
“Because of these issues, and being a Government that has a cordial relationship with our workers, being a administration that won election because of support of the workers, and being a Government that got an award from National Trade Union Congress for being workers friendly, we decided to invite you for dialogue to ensure the strike action dies not affect our relationship, not disrupt the provision of essential services in the state.”
On the reconvening of negotiation Committee, the Deputy Governor noted that, some of the officials with mandate to sit are yet to be appointed, pledging that once they are appointed the sitting will commence.
The Immediate past Secretary to the State Government, Professor Ibrahim Njodi, and the Acting Head of Civil Service, Ahmed Abdullahi appealed to the Nigeria Labour Congress, Gombe State Chapter to consider provision of essential services, if the workers go on strike.
In his remarks, the Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress, Gombe State Chapter, Comrade Yusuf Ali, noted that the cordial relationship existing between the State Government and the NLC but regretted that, they must comply with the directive of embarking on an indefinite strike from the National level otherwise they shall be sanctioned in line with the rules and regulations guiding the union.
He pointed to the Government that, the NLC is not actually against the removal of the subsidy but argued that there must be a dialogue between the critical stakeholders for such a policy to be implemented, wondering why the rush on announcing the subsidy removal while there are other serious matters like security, money swap policy etc.
He ceased the opportunity to appeal to the state Government to reconvene the suspended negotiations of local governments’ minimum wage, and other benefits of workers, including journalist, judiciary, and Health staff allowances among others.
In attendance were the Permanent Secretary, General Services, Mr. Iranius M. Mamman and the Director, Establishment and Service Matters Bureau, Mrs Tabitha James among others.
Wilson Jonah Yakubu
Press Secretary/ Information Officer,
Deputy Governor’s Office.
