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*NLC Insists Nationwide Hardship Protest On Course
The Federal Government at its last minute meeting with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has ended in stalemate.
Towards preventing the protest from going ahead on Tuesday 27th February 2024, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, had invited Labour leaders to his office.
Other top government officials who joined him at the meeting included Ministers of Agriculture; budget and national planning; Labour and Employment; Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Head of Service of the Federation, as well as the Director General of the Department of State Service (DSS).
At the meeting, the Government officials appealed to the labour leaders to shelve the protests because it may lead to breakdown of law and order.
They stressed on the protests in some states that were nearly hijacked by hoodlums before the security agencies could curtailed them.
Before the meeting ended, the labour leaders took a break and broke into another meeting for consultation.
At the end of it all, NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, said despite the intervention to avert the nationwide protests, it would go on as scheduled.
He however, urged the security agencies to protect the protesters.
When reminded of the warning from the DSS, he said, “I would say despite the warning from the DSS, the rally goes on, but it is part of their constitutional responsibility to make sure that the rally is peaceful.
“And while we are going to try our own side to make sure it’s a peaceful rally, that’s all.”
When asked about the unions protesting at the National Assembly, Ajaero said, “Usually, there is no rally that we just do for the sake of walking around. We have demands that we present. Maybe by Tuesday when we present these demands, a copy of it will be made public.”
Government representatives were, however, not available for comments