The two major labour groups in Nigeria have suspended their planned nationwide protest scheduled to hold today.

The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) had scheduled September 28 for a nationwide rally to protest increases in the prices of petrol and electricity.

They suspended the strike and rally after a late-night meeting with a federal government team at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Bulama Abiso is the leader of the Nigerian Labour Union (NLC) Borno State Chapter, while speaking to Radio Ndarason Ndarason International said the union suspended the nationwide strike and protest after the government convinced the NLC with facts presented to them. He added that government succumbs to pressure, agrees to review the electricity tariff for two weeks before their next meeting with the view to reserve the tariff entirely.

The NLC’s demand from government to reserve the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) has declined because the government said reserving PMSs price is inevitable due to COVID-19 impact on the economy. Added that government agrees to provide palliatives to the people to cushion the effect of the hikes on them.

Some of the residents of Maiduguri Khadija Yusuf and Umar Modu interviewed today expressed mixed feelings, noting that the decision to suspend the nationwide strike by the labour groups without any reliable resolution by the government is very sad. Added that the decision was a clear indication that the labour are not representing the poor.

Recent report shows that the decision to halt the nationwide protest by NLC caused crisis between the leaders and its members in Lagos State, which according to them the labour leaders are not representing the masses.