Presidential Steering Committee on Palliatives meeting on Tuesday held at the villa, Abuja.
The President Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero has urged its members to mobilise as the nationwide protest will on Wednesday.
This is as it was widely reported that the NLC General Secretary, Emma Ugbaja had earlier on Tuesday said the union was reconsidering its decision to embark on the protest.
The presidential steering committee on palliatives comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) with government representatives had met in Abuja.
In a statement, Ajaero advised Nigerians to ignore the report which he alleged was the ‘‘work of fifth columnists who are working hard against the wishes of the people”.
‘’We want to inform all Nigerians that we have just risen from a meeting with the federal Government where we sought to get them to listen to the demands of the people and workers of Nigeria. The outcome of this meeting earlier today has however not changed anything or the course which we have set for ourselves tomorrow as custodians of the interests and desires of Nigerian workers and people”, the statement read.
The NLC president therefore appealed to its members to come out en masse and gather in their respective states to give vent to the collective resolve.
Meanwhile, states chapter of NLC have started mobilizing their members for the proposed strike.
The Acting Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun ordered a watertight security strategy across the country.
Organised Labour demands
The Organised Labour has demanded wage award and PMS allowance for Nigerian workers to enable them cope with the effects of the fuel subsidy removal.
President of the TUC, Mr Festus Osifo while speaking with State House correspondents on the outcome of their latest meeting with government’s negotiation team, explained that increase in minimum wage could not be made until after 5 years or until the law is amended.
He urged the Federal Government to emulate State Governments that had given wage awards to their employees without having to wait until the law on minimum wage was amended.
Mr. Osifo complained that the minimum wage committee was even yet to be set up and said the organised labour demanded the provision of 30,000 to 40,000 CNG-powered buses, in the interim, as against the 3000 of such buses proposed by the government, arguing that the government’s proposition is inadequate.
Mr Osifo said no agreement had been reached at the meeting, but that the government had appealed for the suspension of the nationwide protest.
Writing by Annabel Nwachukwu and Abdullah Bello; Editing by Tina Oyinsan