Any attempt to intimidate, provoke, blackmail our leaders at negotiations table will prolong strike –Labour

•Soldiers denies storming meeting venue

From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has cautioned against any attempts to intimidate, provoke or blackmail its leaders at the negotiation table.

In a post issued via its X handle, the  Labour center warned that such tactics would only serve to prolong the ongoing strike and exacerbate the situation for all parties involved.

The warning came amidst heightened tensions surrounding the indefinite nationwide strike embarked upon by the Organised Labour yesterday over the recent hike in electricity tariff and failed new minimum wage agreement with the government.

The Congress also alerted of a huge security presence at the venue of its ongoing meeting with the Secretary to the government of the Federation, (SGF).

“Soldiers are Presently surrounding the venue of the meeting between Labour and Government at the premises of the SGF,” another post by the NLC read.

The military, however, denied the claim.

In its verified handle, it said “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.

At press time last night, the meeting was ongoing.”