22 May 2015, Abuja – The Senate has intervened in the face-off between the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the federal government over the recent hike in the pump price of petrol from N86.50 to N145.
Meanwhile, The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, has also met with national executives of the NLC over the ongoing strike against the removal of fuel subsidy.
After a meeting with the leadership of NLC yesterday, Senate President, Bukola Saraki, said the Senate had called the meeting to find a lasting solution to the crisis caused by the hike in the price of petrol.
Saraki also said he was happy to hear from the labour leaders that they were open to dialogue.
According to him, “The meeting with the leadership of NLC was part of the moves to finding lasting solution to the impasse as well as to bring an end to the impending strike and disagreement with government.
“I am happy to report that the NLC has shown their commitment to continue dialogue with government, and our role is to see that we facilitate that so that through dialogue, we can address the issues.
“I am encouraged by what they have said and confident that we would be able to do this. I know when they leave here, they are also going to meet with the House of Representatives and right now, as they are in the Senate, we play our own role in facilitating and ensuring that we can bring the two parties together and find a lasting solution that will reduce the hardships that Nigerians are going through.
Also, Dogara, in his opening remarks, before retreating into a closed door session, appealed to labour to suspend the ongoing strike, noting that the change promised by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government means things would be done differently.
According to the speaker, “It may not matter if two or three persons protest against the policies of the government, in democracy, there is always dialogue. Aspirations of citizens are supposed to be part of progress. “When citizens only see democracy as a chance to push through their individual needs, they can shatter the country,” as he harped on the need for sacrifice by the citizens.
- This Day