Tinubu Holds Emergency Talks With Labour Leaders as NLC Stands Firm on Nationwide Protest
By Passman Akpos
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday night met with the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) at the State House, Abuja, in a last-minute effort to address growing tensions ahead of a proposed nationwide protest over worsening insecurity in the country.
The meeting was led by NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, and was attended by the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum and Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma; Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo; Governor of Kebbi State, Dr Nasir Idris; and the Minister of State for Labour, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha.
The engagement comes as the NLC insists on proceeding with its planned nationwide protest, scheduled for Thursday, to draw attention to what it described as Nigeria’s “degenerating security situation.” The decision was reached during the Congress’ National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Lagos on December 4.
At the NEC meeting, the NLC vowed to no longer remain silent while insecurity, banditry and kidnapping continue to spread across the country. The labour body also pledged to expose “bad eggs” within the security apparatus, accusing them of failing to protect citizens as criminals issue what it termed “useless demands for ransom.”
Reaffirming the protest plan, Ajaero said the action was aimed at compelling urgent and decisive government intervention. Speaking in Gombe over the weekend after meeting Governor Inuwa Yahaya on labour-related matters, the NLC president stressed that insecurity now affects all Nigerians, regardless of social or economic status.
According to him, banditry and violent crimes are alien to Nigeria’s values and must be collectively condemned and confronted to prevent the entrenchment of what he described as a dangerous national narrative.
While details of the outcome of the meeting with President Tinubu were not immediately disclosed, the talks signal heightened efforts by the federal government to engage organised labour as pressure mounts ahead of the planned protest.
