President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday night met with leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in a last-minute effort to avert the union’s planned nationwide protest over rising insecurity across the country.
The closed-door meeting, held at the State House, Abuja, began at about 11:27 p.m. and was attended by the NLC President, Mr. Joe Ajaero; the Minister of Labour and Employment, Mrs. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha; the Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum, Senator Hope Uzodimma; the Governor of Kebbi State, Dr. Nasir Idris; and the Governor of Edo State, Mr. Monday Okpebholo.
The NLC had earlier announced plans to stage a nationwide protest on December 17, citing what it described as the worsening security situation in the country. The congress had also raised concerns over an alleged plot by “unscrupulous agencies and desperate political hirelings” to infiltrate and disrupt the planned demonstrations.
Speaking to State House correspondents after the meeting, Ajaero said the labour movement would carefully review the president’s submissions before taking a final decision on whether to proceed with the protest.
According to him, the engagement with President Tinubu was consultative, and the NLC leadership would reconvene internally, including holding further discussions with state governors, to assess its next steps.
“We came for consultation with the president, and we have concluded the meeting. We now have to go back to our meeting and continue our deliberations,” Ajaero said. “By tomorrow, you will get the outcome.”
He declined to confirm whether the planned protest had been suspended or cancelled, stressing that such a decision could only be taken collectively by the union’s leadership.
“This is not an organisation that one person rules. After our meeting with the governors’ forum, we will digest everything Mr. President said and decide the way forward,” he added.
Also speaking after the meeting, Governor Uzodimma described the discussion as productive and assured Nigerians that further details would be communicated in due course, noting that both government and labour share a responsibility to act in the national interest.
