President Bola Tinubu late Tuesday held talks with the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Abuja in an apparent effort to avert the union’s planned nationwide protest over rising insecurity.

The closed-door meeting was held at the State House shortly after 11:20pm and was attended by NLC President Joe Ajaero, Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State; Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State; Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi State; and the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Honourable Nkeiruka Onyejeocha.

The engagement came days after the NLC disclosed plans to organise a nationwide demonstration on December 17, citing what it described as a steadily deteriorating security situation across the country.

Earlier on Tuesday, the labour centre had also raised concerns about an alleged plan by “unscrupulous agencies and desperate political hirelings” to infiltrate and violently disrupt the protest.

Briefing State House correspondents after the meeting, Ajaero said the union would review the president’s submissions before deciding its next course of action. He explained that the labour leadership would reconvene, including holding further consultations with state governors, to assess the way forward.

READ ALSO: NLC Announces Nationwide Protest December 17

According to him, the discussions with President Tinubu were strictly consultative, stressing that no final decision was taken during the meeting. He added that the NLC would deliberate internally and communicate its position on Wednesday, December 17.

Ajaero, however, refused to confirm whether the planned protest had been suspended or called off, maintaining that the union would reach a decision only after completing its consultations.

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“We came for consultation with the president, and we have finished, so we have to go back to our meeting and then continue tomorrow. By tomorrow you will get the outcome,” he said.

“Whether I am insisting on or not insisting on the protest, I will communicate to you; it is not an organisation that one person rules.

“Let’s go back; after a meeting of labour and the governor’s forum, we go back to the drawing board and digest all that Mr President said to us and move forward from there.”

Also speaking, Uzodimma said the engagement was a productive dialogue, assuring Nigerians of timely updates.

“Consultation is going on; we were dialoguing. Like he said, at the end of the day, you will know what you are supposed to know and what you want to know,” he said.

“What should Nigerians expect? Of course, we are here to serve the country – both the labour, the government and the governed. We are all working in service to the nation.”

The minister of state for labour and employment affirmed that the NLC leadership had been granted the audience they requested with the president.