President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday night held a closed-door meeting with leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) at the State House, Abuja, as efforts intensify to address labour concerns ahead of the union’s planned nationwide protest over rising insecurity.
The meeting was attended by key government officials, including the Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum and Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma; Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State; Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi State; and the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha.
The labour delegation was led by the President of the NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero.
The late-night engagement came barely a day before the NLC’s scheduled mass action on December 17, raising expectations that the talks were aimed at de-escalating tensions and possibly averting the protest.
Although no official statement was issued at the end of the meeting, sources familiar with the discussions said the talks centred on national security concerns and other pressing issues raised by organised labour.
The development follows the NLC’s earlier declaration that there would be “no going back” on the planned protest, highlighting growing pressure on the government to urgently address insecurity in the country.
