The nationwide protest embarked upon by the Nigerian workers on Wednesday may not persist following the meeting between President Bola Tinubu and the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and its Trade Union Council counterparts at the Presidential Villa last night.
The protest crippled the country on Wednesday and the workers had vowed to sustain the exercise until the Federal Government reverses the anti-masses policies especially the removal of the fuel subsidy.
A series of meetings between the government representatives led by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, with the Labour Centre had ended without a headway which prompted the mass action but the President personally waded in to quench the inflaming tension in the polity.
Sources in the government told our correspondent that contrary to advice from some of his aides, President Tinubu ordered a meeting with the labour leaders believing that his personal intervention would convince the workers to suspend their mass action.
“The President was concerned about the negative impact the continued protest would have on the economy and his government hence his decision to personally meet with the leadership of the unions as quickly as possible. There were suggestions by some of his men that the President should allow the Gbajabiamila steering committee to continue the engagement with the labour but Mr Presient insisted it was time he did the engagement himself and everyone is happy he took that route,” the source said.
The engagement was a huge success considering the comment made by the NLC President Joe Ajaero after the meeting.
Ajaero said Tinubu assured Nigerians that his government would ensure that one of the moribund refineries in the country begins operation by December.
He said the president also pledged to ensure that agreement is reached on the wage award for Nigerian workers immediately.
According to him, Tinubu similarly promised to unveil a workable roadmap to the CNG alternative next week.
He said they would return to a round table discussion after the protest across 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory.
Ajaero said, “It is pertinent to inform Nigerians that the extent of the success of the protest is underlined by the request of the President of the federal republic of Nigeria, Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu to meet with the leadership of the NLC and TUC in a closed-door session.
“The engagement was fruitful that immense mileage was gotten with regards to the issues that bogged down the work of the Presidential Committee on Subsidy removal and necessitated the protest viz:
“He committed to an immediate restructuring of the framework for engagement in line with the input of the Labour leaders. He let out a certainty that the Port Harcourt Refinery will commence production by December this year. He pledged to ensure that Agreement is reached on the Wage Award for Nigerian workers immediately.
“He promised to unveil a workable roadmap to the CNG alternative next week. On the strength of the President’s pledge and commitment, we have decided for a return to a new and reinvigorated dialogue process to allow for full implementation.
“Once again, we thank Nigerians while we wait for the government to fulfill its own part of the understanding as agreed with His Excellency; the President.”
Dele Alake, the Special Adviser to the President on Media, in a statement after the meeting, corroborated the union leader’s stance when he said “Consequent upon the fruitful and frank discussion with President Tinubu and their confidence in his ability to encourage open and honest consideration of all the issues put forward by the Labour Movement, the Labour Leaders resolved to stop further protest,” the statement read in part.
“They opted for further constructive engagement with the government to resolve all outstanding issues as they affect the working people and Nigerians in general.
“President Tinubu gave his commitment to the Labour leaders that the Port Harcourt refineries will start production by December 2023 after the completion of the ongoing rehabilitation contract between NNPCL and Italian firm, Maire Tecnimont SpA.
“President Tinubu assured the Labour leaders that he would continue to work for the best interest of Nigeria while pleading with the Labour leaders to join hands with him to birth a better and economically buoyant country.”
