President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has met with the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) in a bid to avert a planned protest over the nation’s security challenges.
The meeting called on Tuesday evening ahead of Wednesday’s planned protest by the organised Labour had representatives of the organised labour and members of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum.
Speaking to State House Correspondents after the meeting, President of the NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero, said; “the NLC will review its proposed nationwide protest scheduled for Wednesday following a meeting between its leadership and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
Ajaero said that the labour delegation he led to the Presidential Villa would reconvene after a scheduled meeting between organised labour and the Governors’ Forum to reassess the situation.
According to the NLC President, “the labour movement will return to the drawing board to carefully digest the issues discussed with President Tinubu and determine the next steps.”
NLC President, Ajaero, highlighted that the meeting with the President was strictly consultative, stressing that the labour delegation would return to its internal meeting to continue deliberations.
He noted that the outcome of the discussions would be made known by Wednesday, December 17th.
“We came for consultation with the President and we have finished so we have to go back to our meeting and then continue on Wednesday so you will get the outcome.
“If I am insisting or not insisting on my protest I will communicate to you it is not an organisation that one person rules
“Let’s go back,now you have a meeting of Labour and Governor’s forum we go back to the drawing board and digest all that Mr President said to us and move forward from there,” Ajaero added.
Speaking further on the expanded engagement between the Nigerian Government and organised labour, the Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum and Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma, said consultations were ongoing, stressing that “the discussions were focused on constructive dialogue.”
Governor Uzodinma noted that the outcome of the engagement would be communicated at the appropriate time, assuring Nigerians that all parties involved were acting in the national interest.
“Consultation is going on we were dialoguing like he said at the end of the day you will know what you are supposed to know and what you want to know
“What should Nigerians expect ?
Of course we are here to serve the country both the labour the government and the governed we are all working service to the nation.” Governor Hope said.
The Minister of State for Labour, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, said members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), who are also citizens, had requested an audience with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and were granted the opportunity.
The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, had called on workers, civil society allies and others to take to the streets on Wednesday to protest against the security challenges confronting the nation.
Recall that the December 17 planned protest was part of the resolutions reached at the NLC National Executive Council, NEC, meeting held in Lagos State on December 4.
NLC had also stated that the protest would be peaceful and involve workers and civil society allies marching along designated routes nationwide.