PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu met with the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) late Tuesday over plans by the organised labour to stage a nationwide protest against unresolved demands.
The Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the President, Bayo Onanuga, revealed this in a statement, noting that 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.
“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.
Onanuga said that the Nigeria Labour Congress was led to the meeting by its national leadership, without highlighting the outcome of the meeting.
“The chairman of the NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero, led the labour leaders to the meeting,” it added.
The meeting followed 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.
The workers 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.
Nanji is an investigative journalist with the ICIR. She has years of experience in reporting and broadcasting human angle stories, gender inequalities, minority stories, and human rights issues. She has documented sexual war crimes in armed conflict, sex for grades in Nigerian Universities, harmful traditional practices and human trafficking.