The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has confirmed that its nationwide protest will go ahead as planned, despite a late-night meeting between labour leaders and President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday.
The protest, which is scheduled for Wednesday, is part of the NLC’s ongoing efforts to draw attention to workers’ grievances over the rising cost of living, inadequate wages, and economic hardship affecting millions of Nigerians.
President Tinubu had met with the union leadership at the State House in Abuja, in what many saw as a last-minute attempt to avert the strike. The meeting, held late on Tuesday, was aimed at addressing labour’s concerns and persuading leaders to postpone the planned demonstration.
However, speaking to reporters at the Labour House on Wednesday morning, NLC President Joe Ajaero stated clearly that the protest would proceed as planned.
“We are going ahead with our protest today. The issues affecting workers remain unresolved, and our action is necessary to ensure the government listens to our demands,” Mr Ajaero said.
He added that while the union appreciates the dialogue with the President, discussions alone were not enough to resolve the urgent challenges facing workers across the country.
The NLC’s decision to stage a nationwide strike comes amid growing frustration among Nigerian workers over high inflation, rising fuel and transport costs, and stagnant wages.
Since the removal of the fuel subsidy in 2023, Nigerians have faced soaring prices for basic goods and services. Many workers and families have struggled to cope, prompting the labour union to demand urgent government intervention.
The union has repeatedly called for wage increases, better social protection, and policies aimed at reducing the economic burden on citizens. When these demands were not fully addressed, the NLC decided to mobilise workers for the nationwide protest.
President Tinubu’s meeting with labour leaders is part of ongoing efforts by the government to maintain dialogue and avoid industrial unrest. The Presidency has often emphasised that economic reforms, though painful, are necessary to stabilise the nation’s finances and attract investment.
During Tuesday’s meeting, Tinubu reportedly assured the NLC that the government was aware of the challenges facing workers and that discussions would continue to find lasting solutions. Despite these assurances, the NLC leadership concluded that immediate action was still necessary.
The nationwide protest is expected to affect public services, transportation, and business activities across Nigeria. Workers in both the public and private sectors are participating, raising concerns about potential disruption in key sectors such as health, education, and government administration.
Many Nigerians have expressed mixed feelings about the protest. While some support labour’s efforts to demand better living conditions, others worry about the disruption to daily life and economic activities.
The NLC has stated that it will monitor developments during the protest and is open to continued dialogue with the government. The union insists that meaningful engagement and concrete action are necessary to address workers’ grievances.
Despite Tuesday’s engagement with the President, the NLC remains resolute, signalling that worker are determined to make their voices heard and press for immediate solutions to their economic challenges.