Breaking: Soldiers Surround Venue of NLC Meeting with Federal Government

 

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has raised an alarm that soldiers have surrounded the venue of its ongoing meeting with the federal government concerning minimum wage negotiations.

 

"Soldiers are presently surrounding the venue of the meeting between Labour and Government at the premises of the SGF," the NLC announced on X (formerly Twitter).

 

The NLC has cautioned that any attempt to intimidate, provoke, or blackmail its leaders during the negotiations will exacerbate the situation and could lead to an indefinite prolongation of their strike action.

 

In a statement on its official X handle on Monday, the NLC declared, "Any attempt to intimidate, provoke, or blackmail our leaders at the negotiation table would worsen the issue and further prolong our action indefinitely. Our leaders are acting in accordance with the directives of our organs. Viva! Organized labour. Viva! Working people of Nigeria!"

 

This statement follows an emergency meeting called by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, in response to the ongoing nationwide strike.

 

Festus Osifo, president of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), confirmed the meeting, noting that labour leaders from both the NLC and TUC were en route to the SGF office for discussions.

 

Additionally, Joe Ajaero, president of the NLC, asserted that Nigerian workers would not be intimidated by any organization or government entity in their decision to strike. Ajaero's remarks came in response to allegations by the labour union that the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) was using intimidation tactics regarding the national grid shutdown. 

Ajaero warned that such approaches would only inflame the anger of the suffering masses, who are already burdened by the harsh policies of the federal government.