President Bola Tinubu held a late-night meeting on Tuesday with leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in a last-minute effort to stop the union’s planned nationwide protest against worsening insecurity.
The meeting, which began at 11:27pm at the State House, Abuja, was attended by NLC President Joe Ajaero, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma (chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum), Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris, Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo, and Minister of Labour and Employment Nkeiruka Onyejeocha.
Despite the engagement, Ajaero announced on Wednesday morning that the protest would go ahead as scheduled.
He described the meeting as a consultation rather than a negotiation, stressing that the NLC’s leadership must brief its internal organs before making any final decision.
“It is not an organisation that one person rules. We will go back to the drawing board, digest all that Mr President said to us, and move forward from there,” he said.
Labour Insists on Protest, Government Urges Dialogue
The closed-door meeting drew wide public attention, with many Nigerians hoping it would lead to a suspension of the protest.
Uzodimma emphasised that dialogue remained the best way to resolve disputes between labour and government, saying all parties were acting in the overall interest of the nation.
“We are here to serve the country, the labour, the government and the governed. We are all working in service to the nation,” he noted.
Onyejeocha added that labour leaders were reassured by their direct engagement with the President, describing it as “good news” that Tinubu had personally addressed their concerns.
The NLC insists the protest is necessary to demand urgent government action against rising insecurity, including kidnappings, violent attacks, and threats to workers’ livelihoods.
The union says the mobilisation of members nationwide is aimed at pressing the government to take decisive steps to protect lives and property.
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