President Tinubu Holds Late-Night Talks With NLC Leaders Ahead Of Nationwide Protest
In a high-stakes move to steer Nigeria away from the brink of a nationwide shutdown, President Bola Tinubu hosted a late-night, closed-door emergency meeting at the State House on Tuesday. With the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) steadfast in its plan to launch mass protests on December 17, the President gathered a powerful coalition of leaders, including the Minister of State for Labour and several key governors, to engage directly with NLC President Joe Ajaero. This urgent session highlights a government under immense pressure, scrambling to find a diplomatic exit ramp before the streets fill with frustrated citizens.
The atmosphere surrounding the talks is thick with tension, as the NLC had previously declared there would be “no going back” on their planned action. While the official details of the conversation remain under wraps, the core issues are no secret: Nigerians are grappling with record-breaking inflation, a deepening security crisis, and a cost-of-living squeeze that has pushed public patience to its limit. By bringing Ajaero and his team to the table just hours before the deadline, the administration is making a transparent, last-ditch effort to prove it is listening to the grievances of the working class.
As the nation waits for a formal update on whether a compromise was reached, this late-night summit serves as a stark reminder of the current socio-economic volatility. The outcome of these discussions will determine whether Wednesday brings a return to the negotiating table or a wave of nationwide disruptions that could paralyze the country. For now, all eyes are on the State House to see if this midnight diplomacy was enough to calm the storm or if the unions will follow through on their promise to make their voices heard through mass action.
