The joint National Executive Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has suspended the nationwide strike which entered its second day on Wednesday.
The decision was reached at a meeting on Wednesday that deliberated on the outcome of an earlier interface with the Federal Government, led by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu.
The TUC President, Mr. Festus Osifo, confirmed the suspension of the strike on Wednesday evening, saying organised labour has received a commitment from the Ribadu-led meeting that those arrested for the physical assault on NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, would be prosecuted.
The NSA promised to bring both parties back to the table to iron out all issues in dispute, tendering an unreserved apology on behalf of the Federal Government for the brutalisation Ajaero and other members of the congress.
The meeting between the Federal Government and labour, which commenced at a few minutes past 7 pm, lasted for close to one hour during which various affiliates and state chapters reviewed the outcome of the meeting held between the leaders of the organised labour and Ribadu.
TUC’s National Deputy Vice-President, Tommy Etim told The PUNCH in Abuja: “The NEC of the NLC and the TUC have suspended the strike. We did this based on our trust for the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, who gave us his words”.
Labour leaders met with Ribadu alongside the Minister of Labour, Rt. Hon. Simon Lalong, at the Office of the NSA on Wednesday afternoon.
The organised labour is protesting against Ajaero’s alleged brutalisation, and the failure of the government to effectively implement some of the agreements reached on 2nd October 2023.
