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President Tinubu pleads for more time as NLC issues strike notice

Published

3 years ago

July 27, 2023

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President Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday, in Abuja appealed to the organised labour to avail him more time to consider their grievances before embarking on any nationwide strike.

This is just as indication emerged that the Federal Government may enforce the court order restraining the organised labour from embarking on a strike over the withdrawal of fuel subsidy in May should the Nigeria Labour Congress make good its threat on August 2.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, disclosed Tinubu’s plea to State House Correspondents after leading some officers of the House to brief the President on the outcome of their engagement with the National Association of Resident Doctors, which has declared a nationwide strike.

At about the same time, following the threat by labour, the Federal Government on Wednesday evening held an emergency meeting with the organised labour comprising of the NLC and the Trade Union Congress at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

But briefing reporters, Abbas said Tinubu appealed that being new in office, he needs time to evaluate the issues raised by workers over which as he is yet to be briefed.

Abbas said, “What he (Tinubu) said is that he’s just coming on board. We should ask them and beg them to please give him a little more time.

“The things that they mentioned, he is completely unaware of them, he is yet to be briefed about all those issues.

“But from what he heard from me, he also advised that we should channel some of those issues to the Chief of Staff to look at them one after the other. I believe the next coming days, some concerted actions will be taken.”

The Speaker explained that the House leadership invited NARD following their intention to go on strike, saying that the lawmakers succeeded in persuading the union to shelve the plan.

“Sequel to the meeting we had with them, there were series of conditions that they gave, that we felt we need to share with the President,” he revealed.

Asked what the House was doing to restrain the Nigeria Labour Congress from proceeding with the August 2 protests, Abbas said, “In the same manner, the same way, we will also invite them to come and sit so that we hear their grievances and then we follow the same pattern of engaging and persuading them to give us a little time so that we can be able to meet their expectations.”

Meanwhile, the House leadership’s meeting with the President was held as leaders of the NLC and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria met with the Presidential Steering Committee on Palliatives set up by the Federal Government.

However, the meeting failed to convince the labour leaders to shelve their plan as they insisted on proceeding with the protest slated for August 2.

Wednesday’s meeting, which took place in the office of the President’s Chief of Staff, was attended by labour delegations led by the NLC President, Joe Ajaero and his TUC counterpart, Festus Osifo.

It was in continuation of the June 19 meeting over the initial increase of the petrol pump price to N520 per litre.

Addressing journalists after the meeting, Ajaero said, “We are going ahead with the protest because we have to be emphatic on what we put in our communique, to say we are commencing protests from August 2.”

On his part, the TUC President, Osifo, said both sides listened to the presentations from the Steering Committee secretariat and labour made its input afterwards.

He said, “Some of the things they presented, we did not agree with them. So, the areas we did not agree on, we also made our inputs known because when you come to such a meeting, it is for the government or its representatives to do a presentation.

“But it’s left for us to either agree or disagree. So, during the meeting, we gave them sufficient feedback. And they also agreed to go and look at those feedbacks and get back to us on Friday.”

However, the Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Olu Verheijen, said the discussions achieved some progress in negotiations.

She explained: “We’ve agreed to continue to make progress. It was a very productive meeting.

News

Otunba Adekunle Ojora, Industrialist and broadcaster dies at 93

Ojora held significant interests in AGIP Petroleum Marketing, NCR Nigeria, and founded several private firms, including Nigerlink Industries, Unital Builders, and Lagos Investments, a holding company. In the wake of the Nigerian Enterprise Promotion Act.

Published

7 minutes ago

January 28, 2026

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• Photo of Otunba Adekunle Ojora

The Head of Ojora Royal Family of Lagos, on Wednesday announced the death of Otunba Adekunle Ojora at the age of 93.

He is survived by his wife, Erelu Ojuolape, and children, including, Mrs. Toyin Saraki, wife of former Senate President Bukola Saraki.

In a statement issued on behalf of the Ojora Family by Prince Adewale Taorid Ojora, stated that Otunba Ojora who was born on June 13th 1932, died on January the 28th 2026.

Widely celebrated as one of Nigeria’s most influential corporate leaders of the post-independence era,

Otunba Adekunle Ojora carved an exceptional legacy that spanned journalism, public service, politics, and big-ticket corporate governance.

He was Chairman of the Board of AGIP Nigeria Limited from 1971 until its acquisition by Unipetrol in 2002.

Ojora’s professional journey began in the early 1950s at the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) after studying journalism at Regent Street Polytechnic, London.

He rose to the position of assistant editor, and later returned to Nigeria in 1955 to join the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) as a reporter.

He later moved to Ibadan, where he served as an information officer in the office of the then regional premier.In 1961, he transitioned into the corporate world, joining the United African Company (UAC) as Public Relations Manager and becoming an Executive Director in 1962.

His interest in commerce and enterprise deepened in the years that followed, marking the start of a lifelong influence in Nigerian boardrooms.

Following the military coup that ended the First Republic, Otunba Ojora was nominated to the Lagos City Council in 1966.

In 1967, he held two key appointments: Managing Director of WEMABOD, a regional property and investment company, and Chairman of the Nigerian National Shipping Line, succeeding Chief Kola Balogun.

After he left WEMABOD, he expanded his footprint as a major investor and entrepreneur.

He acquired equity stakes in numerous foreign companies operating in Nigeria, including Bowring Group, Inchcape, Schlumberger, Phoenix Assurance, UTC Nigeria, Evans Brothers, and Seven-Up.

Beyond the boardroom, Otunba Ojora was deeply rooted in tradition. He was the Otunba of Lagos, Lisa of Ife and Olori Omo Oba of Lagos.

News

FCTA workers back to work in compliance with court orders

Our correspondent observed a steady flow of staff across departments, pointing to a gradual return to normal operations within the FCTA and FCDA.

Published

28 minutes ago

January 28, 2026

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STAFF of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) have resumed work following a court order directing the suspension of the strikes action.

Consequently, the main gate of the FCTA Secretariat showed workers arriving and proceeding to their various offices, signalling compliance with the court directive.

Our correspondent observed a steady flow of staff across departments, pointing to a gradual return to normal operations within the FCTA and FCDA.

Schools across the Federal Capital Territory have also reopened, bringing relief to residents and raising hopes that ongoing engagements between government and labour unions will remain peaceful and constructive.

News

UK begins Alison-Madueke’s trial on bribery charges

Alison-Madueke sat in the dock alongside oil industry executive Olatimbo Ayinde, 54, who is charged with one count of bribery relating to Alison-Madueke and a separate count of bribery of a foreign public official.

Published

21 hours ago

January 27, 2026

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The alleged corruption trial of the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke commenced on Tuesday at the London’s Southwark Crown Court.

British prosecutors told the court that Alison-Madueke took bribes including luxury goods and the use of high-end properties from industry figures interested in lucrative oil and gas contracts, when she was minister for petroleum resources between 2010 and 2015 under then-president Goodluck Jonathan and was also briefly president of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), the first woman to hold either role.

According to Reuters, the 65-year-old is now one of the most high-profile former energy officials to stand trial for alleged corruption, having been charged in 2023 with five counts of accepting bribes and a charge of conspiracy to commit bribery, which she denies.

Prosecutor Alexandra Healy told jurors at London’s Southwark Crown Court that Alison-Madueke “enjoyed a life of luxury in London”, where she often stayed, provided by those interested in being awarded or retaining contracts with Nigerian state-owned companies.

Healy said Alison-Madueke was given the use of high-end properties and vast quantities of luxury goods by people who “clearly believed she would use her influence to favour them”.

There was no evidence that Alison-Madueke awarded contracts to someone who should not have had one, Healy said.

But given Alison-Madueke’s role “she should not have accepted benefits from those who were no doubt doing extremely lucrative business in oil and gas with government-owned entities”, Healy added.