Ministers representing the Federal Government at a meeting with labour leaders on Wednesday described the discussions as productive.
Following the meeting, held at the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, the ministers briefed the press.
Leading the government’s delegation was Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, while the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, and the Secretary General of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Nuhu Toro, headed the Organised Labour team.
Also in attendance were Minister of State for Labour Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, Minister of Finance Wale Edun, and Minister of Budget and National Planning Atiku Bagudu.
Though the agenda was not publicly disclosed, the Organised Labour has voiced dissatisfaction over recent hikes in the pump price of petrol, electricity tariffs, rampant inflation, and the high cost of living.
Last week, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) retail outlets increased the pump price of petrol in Lagos and Abuja. In Lagos, a litre of petrol now sells for ₦998, up from ₦855, while in Abuja, the price has risen from ₦897 to ₦1,030.
This recent price hike follows NNPCL’s September 2, 2024, increase, which raised the price per litre from ₦568 to ₦855, causing public outrage. Prior to that, petrol prices had surged from ₦184 to ₦568 in June.