President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday night engaged leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) in urgent discussions at the Presidential Villa, aiming to forestall a nationwide protest planned for Wednesday amid Nigeria’s worsening security crisis.

The high-level parley, convened just hours before organised labour’s scheduled action, featured key labour figures and governors seeking solutions to the escalating threats facing the nation.

NLC President Joe Ajaero, speaking to State House correspondents at the end of the meeting which started at 23:27PM, disclosed that the union would reconsider its protest plans after reviewing President Tinubu’s input. He said the labour team would regroup following a dedicated session with governors to evaluate next moves.

Ajaero described the presidential encounter as consultative only, with labour set to deliberate internally before announcing outcomes 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 tomorrow. By tomorrow you will get the outcome.

“If I am insisting or not insisting on the protest, I will communicate to you it is not an organisation that one person rules.

“Let’s go back, after 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.

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum, portrayed the engagement as productive dialogue in the national interest. He assured Nigerians of timely updates, highlighting collective service to the country.

“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 in service to the nation”, Uzodimma said.

Minister of State for Labour, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, affirmed that the NLC—made up of citizens—had been granted the audience they requested with the president.

The protest call originated from the NLC National Executive Council meeting in Lagos on December 4, mobilising workers and civil society for peaceful protests along designated routes to demand action on security challenges. (The Sun)