BY OKEY NDIRIBE
ABUJA—In a move perceived as an attempt by  the Federal  Government to influence them  over the impending withdrawal of fuel subsidy,  labour leaders, Thursday, shunned a parley convened by Minister of Labour, Chief Chukwuemeka Wogu.

The minister had convened the meeting to engage the labour movement and other social partners over lingering areas of dispute on social and economic policies of government.

The ministry had invited leaders of 15 labour unions and associations for the parley but only representatives of three unions attended the meeting which took place at the Conference Hall of the Ministry of  Education, Federal Secretariat, Abuja.

The majority of attendees were members of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW)  and Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN). Also present were National President of Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Mohammed A. Kabir and a representative of the Radio, Television and Theatre Arts Workers Union of Nigeria (RATTAWU).

It was learnt that officials   of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) were at the venue of the parley earlier in the day to ensure the meeting was boycotted by  the unions.

Mr. James Imoyera of the Education Department of  NLC and Mr Aliyu, Chairman of FCT Chapter of TUC, who were at the venue were believed to have turned back leaders of affiliate unions of both umbrella bodies who turned up for the meeting.

It was gathered that they insisted that though NLC and TUC leaders  were not opposed to dialogue, proper lines of communication with the labour movement should be utilised in inviting union leaders for any such parley with the minister.

National Vice-Chairman of Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr Gboyega Onoyiga, who   turned up for the parley  but left almost immediately, said he was misinformed about the purpose for the meeting, adding that NUJ could not be used to endorse  the Federal Government’s  plan to withdraw fuel subsidy.

In his address at the occasion,  Chief Wogu said  he  earlier  intimated some labour leaders about his intention to create the forum adding that not all labour unions were invited for the maiden session of the meeting. He said leaders of some of the labour unions who were invited but couldn’t turn up called him to offer their apologies.

Citing reasons for initiating the parley he said even the International Labour Organisation (ILO) encourages dialogue between Governments, labour unions and other social partners in member countries of the global labour body.

He further stated that the present administration regarded the labour sector as a very important stakeholder in the nation’s developmental efforts adding that it was for this reason that the Jonathan administration wanted a closer rapport with the labour movement.

He further stated that the forum’s goal was to also address unresolved disputes between different labour  unions and associations  in the country citing NUJ, RATTAWU, NURTW  and RTEAN as some of the groups that had lingering disagreements.

He condemned some un-named persons whom he accused of sending text messages to discourage invitees from attending the parley   noting that those who were courageous enough to honour the invitation deserved to be praised.

He maintained that the Government’s  implementation of the  deregulation policy in the downstream sector of the petroleum industry was the right way to go to boost the Nigerian economy.

He denied that the parley was convened to influence labour leaders over the Federal Government’s impending plan to withdraw fuel subsidy but added that the forum would not shy away from the issue since it was an integral aspect President Goodluck Jonathan’s Transformation agenda.