President Bola Tinubu met with leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Tuesday night at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, in an effort to persuade organised labour to reconsider plans for nationwide protests over worsening security concerns.

Speaking to journalists after the closed-door session, NLC President Comrade Joe Ajaero said the meeting was a consultation rather than a conclusive negotiation. He stressed that the union would first deliberate internally before deciding on its next course of action.

“We came for a consultation with the President, and we are finished. We have to go back to our meeting and continue tomorrow. By then, we will get the outcome,” Ajaero said.

When asked whether the NLC still intended to proceed with the planned protest, he declined to commit, emphasising that decisions are collective and not made by a single individual.

“We will go back to the drawing board, digest all that Mr. President said to us, and move forward from there,” he added.

Also present at the meeting was Imo State Governor and APC Governors’ Forum Chairman, Senator Hope Uzodinma, who highlighted that sustained dialogue remained the preferred approach to resolving disputes between labour and government.

“Consultation is ongoing. At the end of the day, you will know what you are supposed to know and what you want to know,” Uzodinma said, adding that all parties were acting in the national interest.

Minister of State for Labour, Rt. Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, noted that labour leaders appreciated the direct engagement with the President and felt reassured by the discussions.

“They are citizens who are also members of the NLC. They wanted to see Mr. President, and they’ve seen him. They are happy with the firsthand engagement,” she said.

Labour leaders are expected to reconvene internally before announcing a clearer position on whether the planned protests will proceed.