The Federal Government on Wednesday constituted a 16-man committee to address issues that necessitated the three-day strike called by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) after the fuel pump price hike.
Mr Babachir Lawal, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), stated this in Abuja after a meeting of the Federal Government delegation with the organised labour.
He said that the meeting was called to work out modalities on ways to resolve the issues raised by the organised labour.
“I am happy to announce that a 16-man committee has been set up as a technical committee, half from the labour side and half from the government.
“The committee is to discuss issues concerning the minimum wage, to advice on possible modalities of working out ways to arrive at a compromise.
“Secondly, we have agreed that the 16-man committee will look at the issue of implementation and the allocation of resources on the half a trillion naira palliatives budgeted for by the Federal Government.
“On the issue of PPPRA board, I am glad to announce that the President has approved the appointment of Alhaji Muhammadu Buba, a former Managing Director of PPMC as the chairman of the board,” he said.
He said the 16-man technical committee would submit its report within two weeks of their inauguration.
The NLC President, Mr Ayuba Wabba, who spoke said the resumption of the meeting with the Federal Government was fruitful.
“We have looked at the totality of the issues that are in contention, especially the issue of the pump price. We have set up a technical committee to look at the details.
“ The fact that the pricing issue and the template have to be considered by an appropriate body which by law is Petroleum Pricing Product Regulation Agency (PPPRA).
“Part of the issue we discussed is to get that board in place, as you know for the past few years that board has not been in place.
“It is their responsibility to actually interrogate the template that has been used to arrive at the price of N145 per litre and we have been able to get it constituted,’’ he said.
Sen. Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment, who also spoke commended the NLC for returning to the negotiating table.
He said the minimum wage issue would be discussed under a tripartite arrangement and in conformity with the International Labour Organisation’s recommendation and instrument.
Ngige said that the 16-man committee would be inaugurated next week. said.(NAN)