By our Reporter
The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) began its planned protest on Wednesday in Lagos, despite a late-night meeting on Tuesday between its leadership and President Bola Tinubu aimed at averting the action.
Com Joe Ajaero,
led the labour delegation to the meeting at the State House in Abuja. The session was also attended by the chairman of the APC Governors’ Forum, Hope Uzodimma; Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo; Governor of Kebbi State, Nasir Idris; and the Minister of State for Labour, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha.
When asked by State House correspondents whether the protest would still go ahead, Ajaero did not give a direct answer.
He said, “If I’m insisting (on proceeding with the strike), I’m not insisting. 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 the governor’s forum. We’ll go back to the drawing board and digest all that Mr President said to us, and move forward from there.”
The protest, which was widely anticipated, highlights ongoing tensions between the government and labour unions over economic and welfare issues.
Labour leaders are expected to hold follow-up discussions before making a formal announcement regarding the next steps of the industrial action.
