Hardship: FG, Labour unions meet to avert nationwide protests

The Federal Government is currently having a make or mar emergency meeting with the organised labour unions, including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) to avert the planned two-day national protests over the debilitating hardship experienced by Nigerians.

The closed-door meeting is being hosted by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume.

Mr Segun Imohiosen, Director, Information in OSGF, confirmed that the meeting is holding and declined further comments.
NLC had maintained that it would not back down on the nationwide protest billed to hold on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively.

It stood its ground despite a series of warnings from various quarters to shelve the action in the interest of peace.

First to give warning was the Department of State Services, which said, through its spokesman, Peter Afunanya, that the organised labour should negotiate with the government officials rather than embarking on an action that might affect national security.

In the same vein, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, said the action of the organised labour would be contemptuous if they embarked on the protest, citing two ex parte orders previously granted by the National Industrial Court.

But members of the organised labour and some civil society organisations, maintained that no level of blackmail, threats or warning from the government would make them to back down on their decision, saying the protest would be peaceful.

In an interview with Daily Trust, the Head of Information, NLC headquarters, Benson Upah, confirmed that members of the Congress were mobilising across the States, insisting that they have been working through the weekend to fine-tune how peaceful the protest would be.

“What I can tell you is that, mobilisation is going on with high spirits. We had commenced mobilisation since February 22 when the ultimatum expired. We’re working through the weekend to ensure that things are put in place,” Upah told our correspondent in a telephone interview.

Daily Trust reports that the protest, billed to hold across 36 States of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory simultaneously would be led by the President of NLC, Joe Ajaero,