President Bola Tinubu has held a crucial closed-door meeting with leaders of organised labour as tensions rise over a planned nationwide protest by workers.

The engagement took place late Tuesday night at the State House in Abuja, amid growing concerns over unresolved labour demands and economic pressure on Nigerians.

The meeting comes at a critical moment, with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) threatening mass protests across the country.

Labour leaders have accused the Federal Government of failing to fully honour earlier agreements on workers’ welfare, wage-related issues, and measures to ease the rising cost of living.

In a statement released Tuesday night, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed that top government officials and governors were part of the discussions.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu met with the leadership of the NLC, along with the chairman of Progressive Governors Forum, Hope Uzodimma, Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo and Governor of Kebbi State, Dr Nasir Idris and the Minister of State Labour, Honourable Nkeiruka Onyejeocha,” the statement partly read.

According to the statement, the Nigeria Labour Congress was represented by its national leadership at the high-level meeting.

“The chairman of the NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero, led the labour leaders to the meeting on Tuesday night at the State House, Abuja,” it added.

The engagement followed days of heightened rhetoric from organised labour. The NLC had warned that it would mobilise workers for nationwide protests if the government failed to act on key demands.

These include concrete relief measures to cushion the impact of recent economic reforms, improved wages, and urgent intervention to address the worsening socio-economic conditions faced by workers and their families.

Labour leaders have repeatedly expressed frustration over what they describe as delays in implementing agreements reached during previous negotiations with the Federal Government.

They warned that continued inaction could lead to widespread industrial action and street protests in major cities across the country.

As of the time of filing this report, details of the discussions remain unclear. Neither the Federal Government nor the NLC leadership has issued an official statement on the outcome of the meeting or whether it has altered plans for the proposed protest.