The conversation with President Bola Tinubu on petrol subsidy removal palliatives was regarded as “fruitful and productive” by the Organised Labour.
Speaking to state house media after a meeting with the president on Tuesday in Abuja, Joe Ajaero, national president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), said the proposed steps had been thoroughly investigated because the issues that caused the protests remained.
He did not, however, give any assurances about the termination or continuation of statewide rallies against the economic hardships caused by the removal of the petrol subsidy.
On whether the strike will be called off, the NLC president explained that a decision that will be taken after the union’s executive meeting.
“We met with him (President); issues are the same issues that led to the protest today. He has expressed his position and made some commitments which are taken side by side with what the National Assembly said,” he said.
“We’re taking it back to the office with our colleagues to review it and release a document on our next line of action.”
On whether the protest has been called off, Ajaero said an immediate decision could not be taken by the labour leaders that came for the meeting.
He said the national executive council (NEC) of the NLC would meet on Thursday to decide on the next course of action.
“No one person can call it off. That’s why I say we’ll have to go back to the office. So that we will look at it at the EXCO meeting,” he said.
“And by tomorrow, the NLC will equally have their NEC meeting to look at the bigger picture on whether to suspend the protest. The president is a pro democratic activist so he understands protests.”
Festus Osifo, president of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Nigeria, was also present at the meeting.
