Deborah Akinyosoye
President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday night met with the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress amid plans by organised labour to stage a nationwide protest over unresolved demands.
The meeting, which took place at the State House, Abuja, followed growing tensions between the Federal Government and labour unions over issues bordering on workers’ welfare, rising cost of living and the implementation of previously agreed concessions.
Confirming the meeting in a statement issued on Tuesday night, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the President, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed that key stakeholders were in attendance.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu met with the leadership of the NLC, along with the chairman of Progressive Governors Forum, Hope Uzodimma, Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo and Governor of Kebbi State, Dr Nasir Idris and the Minister of State Labour, Honourable Nkeiruka Onyejeocha,” the statement partly read.
According to the statement, the Nigeria Labour Congress was led to the meeting by its national leadership.
“The chairman of the NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero, led the labour leaders to the meeting on Tuesday night at the State House, Abuja,” it added.
The meeting comes against the backdrop of the NLC’s recent threat to embark on mass protests nationwide over what it described as the Federal Government’s failure to fully address workers’ demands, including relief measures to cushion the impact of economic reforms, wage-related concerns and broader socio-economic hardships faced by Nigerian workers.
Organised labour had accused the government of delaying the implementation of agreements reached in previous engagements, warning that failure to act decisively could trigger industrial unrest and street protests across major cities.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the Federal Government nor the leadership of the NLC had released details of the discussions or the outcome of the meeting.