By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Nigerian Army has reacted to reports that soldiers on Monday evening surrounded the venue of the meeting between the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Federal Government.
The Army clarified that the military presence was solely to escort the National Security Advisor (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.
In a statement released on X, the army stated: “The attention of Army Headquarters has been drawn to a false breaking news by NLC alleging that soldiers currently surround the venue of the ongoing meeting between NLC and the SGF. Kindly note that the NSA, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, who is also attending the meeting, arrived at the meeting venue with his retinue of statutorily approved military escorts. Once the meeting is over, the escorts will lead the NSA from the venue. Kindly disregard the deliberate and misleading falsehood being peddled about the presence of the escorts at the meeting.”
The clarification comes after the NLC warned against any attempts to intimidate or blackmail its leaders during negotiations, stating that such actions would worsen the ongoing industrial action and potentially prolong the strike indefinitely.
The NLC had earlier confirmed the presence of soldiers at the meeting venue, posting on its official social media handle: “Soldiers are presently surrounding the venue of the meeting between Labour and Government at the premises of the SGF.”
The meeting, summoned by Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) George Akume, aims to resolve the ongoing indefinite nationwide strike. The labour unions are demanding a new national minimum wage and a reversal of the recent hike in electricity tariffs.