The Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu,
said on Wednesday that consultation was ongoing between the Federal Government
and labour unions for an amicable resolution.

Wogu disclosed this in Abuja when he addressed journalists
after a closed door meeting with union executives.

Our correspodnent reports that the meeting aims at resolving
the trade dispute involving the National Union of Electricity Employees over
retirement benefits and severance allowances to members

According to him, both parties are shifting ground and it
will be premature to leak any information to the media until final conclusion.

He said that the Federal Government and the union were making
progress and gave assurance that the matter would be peacefully resolved.

Earlier, Mr Peter Esele, the President of Trade Union
Congress (TUC), who spoke on behalf of the union, explained that both parties
were shifting grounds but had not really reached any agreement.

He said that members of the union were not present at the
meeting; hence the need for them to be consulted before the union could take
any decision that would affect them.

Esele explained that until labour had made the necessary
consultation, he would not comment on issues discussed at the meeting.

Our correspondent reports that both the Federal Government
delegates and the labour union had met last Tuesday over the dispute but the
meeting was also inconclusive.

Present at the meeting were the Secretary to the Government
of the Federation, Chief Anyim Pius Anyim and Mr Darius Ishyaku,the Minister of
state for Power.

Others included Ms Bolanle Onagoruwa, Director-General of
the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) and Mr Muhammad Ahmed, Director-General
of the National Pension’s Commission.

The workers are also demanding for 25 per cent as stipulated
in the Pension Act.