Breaking News: Strike continues as Jonathan’s meeting with Labour ends in deadlock

The meeting between the President, some sate Governors and Labour this evening has ended in a deadlock. Labour says compromise is being made but no agreement has been reached.

Discussion continues on Saturday, strike continues tomorrow. Occupy Naija......

There was no end in sight to the ongoing general strike in the country over the removal of fuel subsidy on Thursday night as the meeting between the Federal Government and organised Labour at the Presidential Villa, Abuja ended in a stalemate.
The government’s side was led by President Goodluck Jonathan while the presidents of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Mr. Abdulwaheed Omar, and Trade Congress, Mr. Peter Esele, led a 17-man delegation from organised Labour and civil society to the meeting.
Omar told journalists after the meeting that the strike would continue as no agreement was reached at the meeting. He also said another discussion had been scheduled for Saturday.
The meeting began at 5pm at the Presidential Villa and Labour demanded that government must revert from N141 to N65.
THE PUNCH learnt that the Labour and civil society delegation  joined the meeting at 6.30pm.
Jonathan and Sambo left shortly after the Labour leaders arrived at the meeting venue. But they returned hours later.
The strike and protests entered their fourth day today.
Earlier in the day, Mark confirmed that the meeting would hold,  in a short interview with Senate correspondents in Abuja.
Speaking after meeting with Labour leaders at his residence, Mark said the Senate had succeeded in getting both sides to discuss the January 1, 2012 controversial removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government.
“Our efforts are to ensure that Labour and government sit down to discuss the issues and I think we have achieved that. There is going to be a meeting today between the government and the leadership of Labour,” Mark said.
Omar and Esele also confirmed the 5pm meeting.
The Senate president had on Thursday morning led a delegation of senators to the Presidential Villa for a short meeting with Jonathan and senior government officials.
The Senate and House of Representatives had at separate sittings called on Jonathan to revert to N65, in the interest of the nation, and enter into serious negotiations with Labour.
Also, eminent Nigerians such as former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former President Shehu Shagari; clerics, politicians; and leaders of thought had pleaded with Jonathan to revert the price.