The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said it will consult its relevant organs before taking a final decision on the planned nationwide protest, following a meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The meeting, which took place late on Tuesday night, came barely hours before the protest was scheduled to begin across the country.
The proposed protest was organised by the NLC to draw attention to the worsening insecurity and economic hardship facing Nigerians, particularly workers who have been grappling with rising living costs, job losses, and declining purchasing power. Ahead of the protest, the labour union had mobilised its affiliates and state councils nationwide, urging workers to participate in peaceful demonstrations.
Speaking to journalists after the closed-door meeting with the President, the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, explained that the engagement was consultative and not a decision-making session. He stressed that the leadership of the congress would return to brief its internal structures, including the National Executive Council and other statutory organs, before deciding whether to proceed with or suspend the protest.
Ajaero noted that the NLC operates as a collective body where major decisions are taken through consultations and consensus. According to him, no single individual has the authority to unilaterally call off or insist on the protest. He stated that once the organs of the congress had been adequately consulted, the union would communicate its final position to the public.
When asked directly whether the protest would still hold as scheduled, the NLC president declined to give a definite answer. He maintained that the meeting with President Tinubu was part of an ongoing engagement process and that labour leaders needed time to review the issues discussed before taking the next step.
The meeting at the State House was attended by other key government officials and political stakeholders. Among them was the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governors’ Forum and Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma, who said dialogue remained the best approach to resolving disputes between the government and organised labour. He emphasised that both sides shared a responsibility to act in the national interest.
Also speaking after the meeting, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, described the engagement as fruitful. She said the government had listened to the concerns raised by labour leaders and assured them that efforts were being made to address issues of insecurity and economic challenges. She added that the President was committed to continued dialogue with organised labour.
The planned nationwide protest has drawn significant public attention, given the influence of the NLC and its history of organising mass actions over national issues. Labour unions in Nigeria have, in the past, shut down economic activities through strikes and protests over fuel price increases, minimum wage disputes, and other policies perceived to negatively affect workers.
In recent weeks, the NLC has been vocal about the security situation in parts of the country, where cases of kidnapping, banditry, and violent attacks have continued to pose serious threats to lives and livelihoods. The congress has also criticised government policies it says have worsened poverty and deepened economic hardship among Nigerians.
Despite the late-night intervention by the President, uncertainty remains over whether the protest will go ahead. As of the time of reporting, the NLC had not issued an official directive suspending or confirming the action. Labour sources indicated that consultations were ongoing at various levels of the organisation.
Observers say the outcome of the NLC’s internal consultations will be crucial in determining the next phase of labour-government relations. While some analysts believe the meeting could pave the way for further negotiations, others argue that labour may still proceed with the protest to maintain pressure on the government to act decisively on its demands.
For now, Nigerians await the decision of the NLC, as the possibility of a nationwide protest continues to generate mixed reactions across the country, with many citizens expressing sympathy for labour’s concerns while also hoping for a peaceful resolution through dialogue.
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