The leadership of organized labour in Nigeria have suspended nationwide protests associated with the recent removal of subsidy on petrol.
Presidential Spokesman, Dele Alake revealed this in a message he issued on Wednesday night.
Alake said the leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress decided to suspend the nationwide protest after getting assurances from President Bola Tinubu that their demands would be met.
He said: “The leadership of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) led by its President, Joe Ajaero, and that of Trade Union Congress, Festus Usifo, held a meeting with President Bola Tinubu Wednesday evening at the State House, Abuja.
“Consequent upon the fruitful and frank discussion with President Tinubu and their confidence in his ability to encourage open and honest consideration of all the issues put forward by the Labour Movement, the Labour Leaders resolved to stop further protest.
“They opted for further constructive engagement with the government to resolve all outstanding issues as they affect the working people and Nigerians in general.”
The Presidential aide stressed that the Nigerian leader promised that the Port-Harcourt refinery in Rivers State would commence operations in December.
“President Tinubu gave his commitment to the Labour leaders that the Port Harcourt refineries will start production by December 2023 after the completion of the ongoing rehabilitation contract between NNPCL and Italian firm, Maire Tecnimont SpA.
“President Tinubu assured the Labour leaders that he would continue to work for the best interest of Nigeria while pleading with the Labour leaders to join hands with him to birth a better and economically buoyant country,” Alake added.
Meanwhile, a statement signed by the Presidents of the two Labour centres, the NLC Joe Ajaero and TUC Festus Osifo, confirmed that President Tinubu has taken steps to avert further industrial actions by the workers.
“It is pertinent to inform Nigerians that the extent of the success of the protest is underlined by the request of the President of the federal republic of Nigeria; Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu to meet with the leadership of the NLC and TUC in a closed-door session.
“The engagement was fruitful that immense mileage was gotten with regards to the issues that bogged down the work of the Presidential Committee on Subsidy removal and necessitated the protest.“
The statement appreciated what it described as the massive solidarity and support of the Nigerian people who thronged the various venues around the country in their numbers despite intimidations and blackmails by “agents of government and forces of retrogression to discourage” them from joining the nationwide protest.
“The message you have sent today is a strong demonstration of our collective resolve as patriots and owners of the sovereign will to demand that those who occupies the corridors of power must listen to us.
“You have sent a very strong, loud and clear signal to those occupying the various government houses be it at the federal or state that the people remain the sovereign and the barometer for measuring that resides with the trade union movement who have continued to be the bastion of that collective will.“
It also appreciated the “timely” intervention of the leadership of the National Assembly for their pledge to resolving the issues raised by the “Nigerian people” and for their understanding of the need for Government to provide quick wins as succor with short timelines to ameliorate the consequences of the hike in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) on the citizenry.
“It is also important that we inform Nigerians that we have just received a Court summons purporting to charge us with contempt of Court,“ urging Nigerians to be vigilant.
“The leadership remains resolute in its commitment to the protection of the interests and welfare of the Nigerian people and nothing whatsoever can take our eyes away from this focus nor shake our belief.
“To further show our collective resolve, All Nigerian workers will resume at the Courts wherever they may be across the nation on the days of the Court sittings to hear the contempt proceedings against the leaders of trade unions,” it said.
Labour unions in Nigeria commenced a nationwide protest on Wednesday, August 2, against some policies of the government, calling for improved conditions of living for citizens of the country.
