President Bola Tinubu late Tuesday night met with leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in a last-ditch move to avert the union’s planned nationwide protest over rising insecurity in the country.
The closed-door meeting, held at the State House, Abuja, commenced around 11:27 p.m. Present at the talks were NLC President, Joe Ajaero; Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum, Hope Uzodimma; Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris; Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo; and the Minister of Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha.
Last week, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) announced a nationwide protest scheduled for December 17, citing what it described as the country’s “degenerating security situation.”
On Tuesday evening, the labour union further raised the alarm over an alleged plot by “unscrupulous agencies and desperate political hirelings” to infiltrate and violently disrupt the planned nationwide protests.
After the meeting, the NLC President told State House correspondents that the labour union would reconsider its planned protest after weighing the inputs of President Bola Tinubu.
He added that the congress leadership would regroup following a separate session with the governors to evaluate the situation and decide on the next steps.
Ajaero said the meeting with the president was strictly consultative, adding that the labour union would hold internal deliberations before making its position known on Wednesday, December 17.
He did not indicate whether the planned protest had been suspended or cancelled, noting only that the NLC would meet to take a final decision after the consultations with the president.
Ajaero said the meeting with President Bola Tinubu was strictly consultative, adding that labour leaders would return to their internal deliberations before announcing a decision.
He noted that the outcome of the talks would be made public on Wednesday.
The NLC president stressed that no single individual could unilaterally decide the fate of the planned protest, explaining that the congress would collectively review the president’s submissions.
He added that labour would also engage with state governors, after which it would reassess its position and determine the next line of action.
Imo Governor Uzodimma described the meeting with the NLC and President Tinubu as a productive dialogue, assuring Nigerians of timely updates.
He emphasized that the consultation aimed to serve the nation and confirmed that the NLC received the audience they requested with the president.