The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has suspended its planned two-day protest across the country following the successful outcome of the first day of demonstrations.
In a communique issued after its National Executive Council meeting on Tuesday night, the NLC stated that the objectives of the protest were achieved on the initial day, leading to the decision to suspend further street action.
The protest, which aimed to address issues of economic hardship and the implementation of agreements reached with the government, saw widespread participation and ground economic activities nationwide on Tuesday. Despite last-minute talks between labour leaders and the Presidency on Monday night, which ended in a stalemate, the NLC proceeded with the planned protest.
Labour leader Joe Ajaero emphasized that the protest was not solely about a review of the minimum wage but also about addressing hunger and economic challenges faced by many Nigerians. He stressed the need for concrete action to alleviate these hardships and implement agreed-upon measures.
However, following the successful turnout and impact of the protest on the first day, the NLC decided to suspend further street action for the second day. Instead, the focus will shift to nationwide press conferences organized by state councils of the Congress, including the National Headquarters.
Additionally, the NLC extended the ultimatum given to the government by another seven days, with the new deadline set for March 13, 2024. During this period, the government is expected to implement all agreements reached on October 2, 2023, and address other demands presented by the NLC