IG Egbetokun Meets Labour Leaders in Abuja

The acting Inspector-General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, met with the national leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress on Monday night behind closed doors.

Though details of the meeting was yet to be revealed by the police high command as of the time of filing this report, our correspondent gathered that the meeting was in connection with the two-day warning strike earlier declared by the workers’ unions.

When contacted, the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi said, “Yes, the meeting happened; and we’re going to release a statement to that effect soon.”

The national leadership of the NLC has shunned the last-minute reconciliatory meeting convened by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, with the purpose of averting the two-day warning strike already declared by the labour centre.

However, only the leadership of the TUC, led by its president, Festus Osifo, showed up for the meeting slated for 3 p.m. but started at exactly 5:32 p.m. on Monday.

Last Friday, the NLC in a communique released which was jointly signed by its national president, Joe Ajaero and Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja said it decided to embark on a two-day following what was described as the failure of the Tinubu-led Federal Government to dialogue and engage stakeholders within the organized labour on efforts to cushion the effects of the removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit popularly known as petrol on the “poor masses”.

Earlier, the organized labour in August staged a one-day protest which grounded activities in major cities across the country.

While listing some of the other reasons why it would mobilize its members for the nationwide shutdown, the center accused the police of laying siege at the national headquarters of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, alleged exploitation of the rights of workers in Imo state, interference in trade union matters by the Abia State government, proposed demolition by the new minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike among others.