JUST IN: FG, Labour leaders in last-minute meeting to avert nationwide strike

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A meeting between representatives of the federal government and leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), is currently holding at the Aso Villa, Abuja.

Attending the meeting on the side of organised labour are Joe Ajaero, NLC president; Nuhu Toro, secretary of the TUC, and Emma Ugbaja, NLC general secretary.

The government team is led by Femi Gbajabiamila, chief of staff (CoS), to President Bola Tinubu.

Other members of the government team include  Folasade Yemi-Esan, the head of service of the federation (HSoF); Nuhu Ribadu, the national security adviser; Simon Lalong, minister of labour and employment; Nkeiruka Onyejecha, minister of state for labour and employment; Wale Edun, minister of finance; Atiku Bagudu, minister of budget and economic planning and Beta Edu, minister of humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation.

Also present are some directors from the ministry of labour and employment.

The organised labour had failed to show up for a scheduled meeting with the government’s representatives on Friday evening.

Gbajabiamila and Lalong were at the presidential villa to meet with the leaders of the NLC who did not show up.

The organised labour had given notice on September 26 that Nigerian workers would be starting a nationwide indefinite industrial action,  from Tuesday, October 3.

The planned strike is a protest against the harsh economic conditions in the country, occasioned by the removal of the petrol subsidy.

The workers had accused the government of unseriousness, premising its reason for its indefinite strike on the economic downturn in the country.