Edo State governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has explained why he took side with the Federal Government against the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on the recent hike in fuel pump price.
Oshiomole, a former labour leader, said there was no other option left for government at this time.
He said there was also a lot of division in the ranks of labour.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after presenting the position of government at the labour/government parley in Abuja on Tuesday night, Oshiomhole urged labour to put their house in order.
“When I noticed that they were not together, I was concerned, I thought that in moments like this, we will put aside the small, small issues and deal with the bigger question which is the issue at hand, which is what the Nigerian people and, particularly, what Nigerian workers expect.
“All I can say at this point is that we must sustain efforts to get the two sides to recognize that. You know, as we say in the labour movement, united we stand, divided we fall and nobody benefits from disunity.
“It’s just unfortunate, but, I believe that they have much more to work together for, than to work apart. I know that will be resolved here,” he said.
The governor pointed out that the situation in 2012 was quite different from what obtains now.
He also enjoined labour to admit the reality on ground and join government in finding solution to the current economic crunch the nation was grappling with.
Oshiomhole said: “The point I will like to emphasis is, unlike 2012, we cannot have the situation where half of government budget is ‘deployed to petroleum item’ to the extent that the Federation Account fund is being used in one way or the other, up to N1.2 trillion. I think that people didn’t really seem to know when they can attack this issue…”
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