Meeting Between Labour and Government Resume

L-R: SENATE PRESIDENT DAVID MARK, TUC PRESIDENT PETER ESELE AND NLC CHAIRMAN ABDULWAHEED OMAR AT A MEETING ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 14, 2011.

… President Goodluck Jonathan To Address Nigerians Tonight Or Monday AM

... Labour Split; Fears CPC Has Taken Over Protests For Selfish Agenda.

SAN FRANCISCO, January 14, (THEWILL) – Representatives of the federal government and labour unions have been locked in a closed-door meeting Sunday in order to reach a deal that will halt the nationwide protests and strike called by labour unions, THEWILL can report today.

As at 10.pm Abuja time, they were still deliberating, though President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is not a part of the meeting.

Those at the meeting are Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim; National Security Adviser Owoye Azazi; Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Minister of Finance; Mrs Deizani Madueke, Petroleum Resources; Mr. Emeka Wogu, Labour Minister; Mohammed Bello Adoke, Attorney General; Labaran Maku,  Information Minister amongst others on the federal government’s side.

For the National Assembly are Senate President David Mark; his deputy  Ike Ekweremadu; Deputy Speaker House of Representatives Emeka Ihedioha; Senate Leader Ndoma Egba; Senator Abdul Ningi and House Leader, Mulikat Akande.

The Governors have Babatunde Fashola of Lagos, Babangida Aliyu of Niger,  Adams Oshiomhole of Edo, Wamako of Sokoto, Peter Obi of Anambra, Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers, Liyel Imoke of Cross Rivers, Muritala Nyako of Adamawa and Gabriel Suswam of Benue.

THEWILL can also report that there has been a crack amongst the organised labour interms of the way out of the dispute between it and government. One half of the body is still insisting that the price of petrol be reversed to N65 per liter before any further discussions with government, while the other half wants a quick resolution to the matter saying members of the opposition parties (particulary the CPC) have hijacked the protests for their own selfish political agenda.

Meanwhile, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan will address Nigerians for the 3rd time within two weeks in a national televised broadcast where a new price for petrol will be made public, THEWILL can report. It will however not be N65, we can exclusively report.

A source familiar with the development said the President would address Nigerians tonight (Sunday night) if the meeting between governors, National Assembly members, Federal government and labour does not drag late into night Sunday (meeting was still on as at 10pm). However, if the meeting ends late, the President’s broadcast will be aired on Monday morning between 7am and 9am.