President Bola Tinubu late Tuesday night met with leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in a last-ditch effort to avert the union’s proposed nationwide protest over rising insecurity across the country.
The meeting, held at the State House, Abuja, began at about 11:27pm. In attendance were the NLC President, Joe Ajaero; Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State and Chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum; Governors Nasir Idris of Kebbi State and Monday Okpebholo of Edo State; as well as the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha.
The NLC had last week announced plans to stage a nationwide protest on December 17, citing what it described as a deteriorating security situation nationwide. Earlier on Tuesday, the congress also raised concerns over an alleged plot by “unscrupulous agencies and desperate political hirelings” to infiltrate and violently disrupt the planned protest.
Speaking with State House correspondents after the meeting, Ajaero said the union would reconsider its protest plans after reviewing the submissions made by President Tinubu. He explained that the NLC leadership would reconvene, alongside a session with governors, to assess its next steps.
Describing the engagement with the president as purely consultative, Ajaero said the congress would deliberate internally before announcing its final decision on Wednesday, December 17. He declined to confirm whether the protest had been suspended or cancelled.
“We came for consultation with the president, and we have concluded. We now have to go back to our meeting and continue tomorrow. By tomorrow, you will get the outcome,” he said.
“This is not an organisation ruled by one person. After our meeting with labour leaders and the governors’ forum, we will return to the drawing board, digest all that Mr President has said, and then move forward.”
Governor Uzodimma, who also addressed journalists, described the meeting as a productive dialogue and assured Nigerians that updates would be communicated in due course.
“Consultation is ongoing; we were dialoguing. At the end of the day, Nigerians will know what they need to know,” he said. “We are all here to serve the country — labour, government and the governed alike.”
The Minister of State for Labour and Employment confirmed that the meeting was granted at the request of the NLC leadership.