–Pix above: PBAT(5th L) and labour leaders after the meeting
SHARE THIS
The pulling down of the National Assembly gate by the rampaging Labour Movement, on Wednesday led to an emergency meeting between the jolted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the labour leaders in Abuja, to avoid further damages on the nation’s infrastructure, a highly competent government source has said.
The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and their civil society allies had begun their indefinite strike on Wednesday, August 2, over fuel subsidy removal and the accompanying hardship on citizens during which the entire country was thrown into disarray on Day One.
During the protest, the organized labour invaded major government offices, especially state legislative houses, Federal Ministry of Justice and ultimately the National Assembly – the second arm of the government – where the security barred them from entering the complex, leading to the severely angry labour pulling down the security gate and gaining access forcefully in bid to meet with the lawmakers.
With this development, an emergency meeting between the President and the labour leaders was brokered by the Senate leadership to avert further damages.
The State Online gathered that President Tinubu’s intervention succeeded in calming down the frayed nerves, after which the labour decided to pedal low.
After the meeting with the president, the National Treasurer, NLC, Hakeem Ambali, in a message on Thursday morning, said, “ Protest suspended due to the Senate intervention and meeting with President Tinubu yesternight. The labour centre is expected to brief the public shortly.”
.In a formal announcement later on Thursday, however, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) confirmed that it has suspended its planned strike after President Bola Tinubu and the Senate intervened on the impasse.
NLC said the resolution followed the National Executive Council meeting of the congress.
The National Treasurer, Hakeem Ambali, in a terse message, maintained, “Protest suspended due to the Senate intervention and meeting with President Tinubu yesternight.”
It however, advised the government to withdraw its court suit against the labour, stressing that its continuation will be stoking the fire of hostility/SHARE THIS
