VZCZCXRO9666
PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHUJA #1294 1701552
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 191552Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9944
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHWR/AMEMBASSY WARSAW 0384
RUEHCD/AMCONSUL CIUDAD JUAREZ 0385
RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS 7182
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC
RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
UNCLAS ABUJA 001294
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR DRL, AF/W
DOL FOR SUDHA DALEY
DOE FOR CAROLYN GAY
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ELAB PHUM NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: GON/LABOR NEGOTIATE TO 12TH HOUR
REF: A. ABUJA 1278
B. ABUJA 1155
1. (SBU) SUMMARY. Following negotiations into the night on
June 18 and again on the morning of June 19, labor leaders
have gained three of their demands and the GON has met them
in the middle on the fourth. The GON agreed to lower the
fuel price to 70 Naira per liter, not the previous price of
65 Naira that labor had requested. Labor has said they are
willing to accept a 70 Naira price if the stakeholders' board
of the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA),
of which labor representatives are members, concurs as is the
normal process for considerations of fuel price increases.
Upon hearing the news of the fuel price reduction to 70
Naira, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of
Nigeria (IPMAN) announced an end to its strike which began on
June 15. Given discussions with labor last week (Ref B) and
the GON concessions as of close of business June 19, post
expects labor to hold out until the last minute and then
agree to the GON position. END SUMMARY.
2. (SBU) As of late on June 18, the GON agreed to: rescind
the VAT increase (reducing it from 10 back to 5 percent),
implement the 15 percent public servant salary increase
promised in January, review the sale of the Port Harcourt and
Kaduna refineries, and reduce the fuel price increase from 75
Naira per liter to 70 Naira per liter. COMMENT: This amounts
to the GON conceding to three of labor's four demands and
meeting them halfway on the fourth -- labor had asked for a
reduction back to the previous fuel price of 65 Naira per
liter. END COMMENT.
3. (SBU) Senior Assistant Secretary General of the Trade
Union Congress (TUC) Dan Uhumangho told Poloff early on June
19 that labor would be willing to accept the GON concessions,
including the 70 Naira per liter fuel price, if the GON would
temporarily return the price to 65 Naira and follow the
legally established procedure for instituting a price
increase. The procedure involves calling a meeting of the
fuel price board of the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory
Agency (PPPRA), comprised of stakeholders (which include
labor representatives). Uhumangho said labor is not
necessarily against the price increase, if there are
legitimate reasons for needing to increase the price, but
that organized labor is concerned by the unilateral decision
by Obasanjo to increase the price without consulting the
board.
4. (SBU) As of close of business on June 19, NLC and TUC
leaders remained in closed door meetings with the GON
negotiator, Secretary to the Government Baba Gana Kingibe.
COMMENT: Given Poloff's discussion with TUC and NLC last week
(Ref. B) and the fact that the labor leaders have won three
and a half of their four demands, post believes that the
labor leaders will hold out until the last minute in hopes of
achieving all four demands, but settle for the GON concession
if necessary. END COMMENT.
5. (SBU) Upon hearing of the GON concession to reduce the
fuel price to 70 Naira per liter, the Independent Petroleum
Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) announced early on
June 19 an end to its strike which had began on June 15.
Unless a national strike begins on June 20, fuel availability
is expected to improve over the next couple of days.
CAMPBELL