The newspapers for Monday, May 16, focus on the moves being made by the federal government to avert the nationwide strike planned by the organized labour following the hike in petrol price.
The Punch reports that the federal government is making frantic efforts to dissuade the leadership of the organised labour from embarking on a nationwide strike over the increase of fuel pump price from N86 and N86.50k to N145.
The Punch newspaper, Monday, May 16, 2016
The paper reports that the government is to meet with the leadership of organised labour at a meeting scheduled to hold in the office of the secretary to the government of the federation today, May 16, to discuss the issue.
Today’s meeting is coming on the heels of a warning given to the federal government on Saturday, May 14, by the representatives of organised labour and the civil society to reverse the increase in the petrol price or on or before midnight on Tuesday or face an indefinite national strike.
Vanguard reports that the scheduled meeting between the government and the labour will take place by 10.am.
The vanguard newspaper, Monday, May 16, 2016
A source told the newspaper that stakeholders expected at the meeting include leaders of NLC, TUC, Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and their Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) counterpart.
Meanwhile, the Guardian reports that as part of its plan to dissuade the organize labour from going on strike over the new petrol price, federal government and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, will be meeting with organized labour where the government will be proposing a new minimum wage that is fixed at N45, 000.
The guardians newspaper, Monday, May 16, 2016
The paper however, reports that the increase comes with some provisos including reduction in the number of civil servants and merging ministries and agencies.
Guardian, citing a source in the presidency reports that ministers had been told to lead the initiative on the downsizing.
Also, the efficiency unit in the Federal Ministry of Finance, which is saddled with coming up with cost reduction strategies is working on the template for the reduction.
In related news, following the planned strike, by labour, the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) and a coalition of civil society organisations have called on Labour to take it easy.
The nation newspaper, Monday, May 16, 2016
The Nation reports that the president of the (ACCI) Mr Tony Ejinkeonye, in a statement on Sunday, May 15 said: “ACCI is calling on the NLC to shelve their planned nationwide strike.
“We in ACCI made it clear over the years that it’s impossible for government to continue subsidy payments on petrol.
“That is why we are asking labour and indeed all Nigerians to support the government at this time.”
Similarly, an elder statesman and retired Bishop of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), the Right. Rev. Bolanle Gbonigi, urged the unions to embrace peace.
Rev. Gbonigi during the presentation of two books written by a radio journalist, Mr Oye Agunbiade over the weekend urged Nigerians, particularly the labour unions to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision on the oil sector.
Meanwhile, the Sun reports that House of Representatives has summoned the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu to appear before it today to explain the rationale behind the increase in the price of petrol.
The Sun newspaper, Monday, May 16, 2016
The paper reports that the minister’s meeting with the lawmakers will take place by 12 noon where Kachikwu is expected to make a presentation regarding the hike in petrol price.
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