. FG, Labour mull concessions. Police kill 3 in Niger, KogiA high-level meeting between government officials and labour unions yesterday began working out a deal to peg petrol price at about N100 per litre, as tens of thousands rallied across the country on the fourth day of protests over fuel subsidy cut.Daily Trust learnt from officials involved in the series of negotiations held throughout the day that under the deal being considered, labour would call off the strike while government would shave off petrol price to between N90 and N100 a litre, down from the post-subsidy price of N144.This would mean the government restoring a subsidy of at least N40 per litre, the officials said.But the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trades Unions Congress said after series of discussions with President Jonathan, National Assembly leaders and seven state governors that the strike and rallies would continue today until a concrete agreement was reached.Another meeting has been scheduled for tomorrow, while the national executives of the labour unions are expected to meet today to consider the options being offered.At the beginning of the talks, labour unions said they wanted the government to revert the January 1 subsidy removal as a pre-condition for negotiation over fixing of appropriate petrol price, but government said the strike must be called off first before discussion would hold.The two sides later agreed to make concessions so as to end the days of strike and protests that turned deadly in a number of states, Daily Trust learnt.The labour leaders met with President Goodluck Jonathan, several state governors and National Assembly leaders at the State House in Abuja yesterday, discussing how to break the deadlock, as the strike entered the fourth day with the largest crowds yet rallying in Lagos, Abuja, Kano and other cities.NLC president Abdulwaheed Omar told journalists after the meeting at about 10.15pm that the two sides agreed to shift ground but the strike would continue.'The outcome is that we have not concluded discussions yet but we have had fruitful discussions and we are to continue on Saturday. We have had very fruitful discussion but it's not conclusive yet,' he said.Senate President David Mark, who also attended the meeting, said there was progress because both parties agreed to shift and soon the issues would be resolved.'The light at the end of the tunnel is even much brighter now. The meeting is very fruitful. Everybody shifted grounds to the level that we will take a decision that will be in the best interest of Nigerians. That will be any moment from now,' he said.State governors at the meeting were Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Babatunde Fashola (Lagos), Adams Oshiomhole (Edo), Gabriel Suswam (Benue), Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Chibuike Amaechi (Rivers) and Peter Obi (Anambra).Also present were Secretary to Government of the Federation Anyim Pius Anyim, Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Labour Minister Emeka Wogu and Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke.Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba and Tunde Aremu of the ActionAid, representing civil society groups, also attended the meeting.Earlier yesterday, Mark and other National Assembly leaders met with the labour officials at his home.But the meeting scheduled to hold yesterday between the House of Representatives mediation committee, labour and Federal Government officials was postponed because of the meeting at the Presidential Villa, House committee member Aminu Suleiman Fagge said.Fagge said the parties would meet today at the National Assembly.Chairman of the Federal Government negotiating team Salihu Modibbo Alfa Belgore was left stranded at the National Assembly when he came for the scheduled meeting at 5pm. He sat in front of the committee room for about an hour and left at 6.15pm when he was told of the postponement.As the meetings to break the deadlock went on, tens of thousands demonstrated in the streets of many major cities across the country to press for reversal of petrol subsidy cut by the Federal Government.Government offices, markets, banks, airports and schools remained closed.The protests went deadly as the police shoot dead two men in Niger State and one person in Kogi State.In Niger State, two persons were shot dead and six other injured when a team of policemen attacked a group of youths holding anti-fuel subsidy removal rally in Lambata town of Gawu-Babangida Local Government Area, 90 kilometers away from the state capital Minna.Yahaya Adamu Ciroma and Rabi'u Abubakar, both 26 years old, were killed when police opened fire on a procession of peaceful protesters, who were demonstrating in spite of the 24-hour curfew declared on Wednesday, witnesses said.One of the protesters told Daily Trust that they were not aware that a curfew was declared, so they took to the streets in continuation with the fuel subsidy protests.Adamu Ciroma, father of deceased Yahaya, said his son was not even among the protesting youths but was an onlooker standing by the roadside but he ended up being the first target of the police, who shot him in the stomach.He added that his late son died on their way to hospital in Wuse, Abuja, because hospitals in the state were on strike.The second dead person Ciroma was also shot in the stomach and also died on the way to the hospital.But Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 7, Alhaji Atiku Karfur, said nobody was killed during the incident. 'In fact the hoodlums had surrounded my car and challenged us, therefore my men had to act, leading to the arrest of these hoodlums,' he said.In Lokoja, Kogi State, one person was also shot dead and several others injured when armed policemen and soldiers involved in the control of anti-fuel subsidy withdrawal protest invaded Kabawa area of the state capital.Protesters had gathered at the Freedom Square at about 8.am to continue with their peaceful protest when armed policemen and soldiers arrived and fired tear gas to dislodge them.It was at this point that a 25-year-old man identified as Anas Gambo was shot from behind at Madabo quarters by a security man.The News Agency of Nigeria quoted witnesses as saying that the police took away the corpse.In Kano, thousands of demonstrators marched in the streets yesterday, on the second day of defiance against labour unions which on Tuesday called off the rallies but not the strike. On Wednesday, former Kaduna State military governor and Kano CPC gubernatorial candidate Colonel Lawan Jafaru Isa and former deputy governor Abdullahi Tijjani Gwarzo joined the anti-subsidy removal protests.Hundreds of youths under the National Association of Katsina State Students (NAKATS) yesterday defied Police order and held protest rally in the state.President of the association Luqman Umar Kankia told Daily Trust: 'After we have informed the police our intention to hold peaceful rally against removal of fuel subsidy, the police attempted to stop us but we went ahead and held the procession.'In Bauchi, police fired teargas to disperse protesters who burnt tyres along major streets and attacked a police station near the stadium.Meanwhile, Nigeria's main oil union said yesterday it would shut down oil output from Sunday if the government did not reverse its decision to remove fuel subsidies.Worries over Nigerian oil supplies have pushed up global oil prices.In Lagos, tens of thousands gathered in Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park, where women selling drinks and Afrobeat music pumping out of loud speakers gave the protest a carnival atmosphere. Many chanted anti-government slogans.A group of demonstrators beat drums and slapped an effigy of President Goodluck Jonathan across the face with leafy branches.'Our leaders have betrayed us too many times and this is the last time. They only care about themselves, not the common people,' said Olu Shittu, quoted by Reuters. 'We're staying here until they put the subsidy back.
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