The meeting between President Bola Tinubu’s government and labour unions has proposed an alternative to the use of petrol by Nigerians to cushion the effect of subsidy removal on petrol.
Femi Gbajabiamila, the speaker of the House of Representatives, disclosed this at the end of their meeting in Abuja on Monday.
Mr Gbajabiamila, who led the government delegation at the meeting, said the alternatives include adopting compressed natural gas (CNG) and reviewing the inclusion of low-income earners in the World Bank-financed cash transfer scheme.
The two parties said the cost and efficiency of the CNG would bring a better and long-lasting solution to the constant fluctuation in petrol prices in the global market.
The CNG is the cleanest burning fuel operating today, bringing about less vehicle maintenance and longer engine life.
Mr Tinubu’s government, NLC and TUC agreed to allow a dialogue among stakeholders in the oil and gas sector between now and June 19 to work out an implementation framework for all resolutions reached.
The seven resolutions included that the government, the TUC and the NLC establish a joint committee to review the proposal for any wage increase or award and establish a framework and timeline for implementation, review the World Bank-financed cash transfer scheme and propose the inclusion of low-income earners in the programme.
Other resolutions are to revive the CNG conversion programme earlier agreed upon with Labour centres in 2021 and work out detailed implementation and timing, review issues hindering effective delivery in the education sector and propose solutions for implementation, review and establish the framework for completion of the rehabilitation of the nation’s refineries.
Mr Tinubu’s government is expected to provide a framework for maintaining roads and expanding rail networks nationwide.
“All other demands submitted by the TUC to the federal government will be assessed by the joint committee,” the resolution said.
(NAN)
