The Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) is to engage organised labour unions on the issue of fuel subsidy removal.

“We shall be engaging the NLC as sub-national leaders and with a view to ensure that the outcome of our engagement will also be fed into the national discourse,” said the NGF chairman, Governor Kayode Fayemi, while briefing journalists at the end of the forum’s meeting, which ended in the early hours of Thursday in Abuja.

Mr Fayemi explained that the 36 governors met and discussed issues of national importance, including the removal of the subsidy and the Electoral Amendment Bill.

“We discussed the issue around petroleum subsidy and concluded to engage the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress. We will engage them on how best to address this issue without causing any disaffection but with a view to salvaging the Nigerian economy for the Nigerian people at the end of the day,” stated the Ekiti governor.

Speaking on the input of the NGF in the proposed price of N302/litre as the price of petrol, Mr Fayemi stated that the matter was not a decision of the governors but the exclusive responsibility of the federal government.

He added that even though it was the responsibility of the National Economic Council, the governors were contributing to the debate.

Mr Fayemi also commended the Senate for accelerating the removal of the contentious clauses in the draft Electoral Amendment Bill.

He expressed hope that the House of Representatives would follow suit to return the revised electoral bill to Mr President for assent on time.

He stressed it would enable the various institutions, particularly the Independent National Electoral Commission, to proceed with its responsibilities towards the various elections in 2022 and 2023.

(NAN)