‘They’re Ribadu’s escorts’ — army explains soldiers’ presence at labour/FG meeting venue

The Nigerian Army has reacted to the claim by organised labour that soldiers have surrounded the venue of the ongoing negotiation meeting on the new minimum wage for workers.

The leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) are currently meeting with the federal government representatives at the office of George Akume, secretary to the government of the federation (SGF).

Shortly after the meeting commenced, the NLC posted on its X handle that soldiers were surrounding the venue of the negotiation.

“BREAKING NEWS! Soldiers are Presently surrounding the venue of the meeting between Labour and Government at the premises of the SGF,” the NLC wrote on X.

‘THEY ARE RIBADU’S ESCORTS’

However, in a reaction, the Nigerian Army said the soldiers at the meeting venue are “statutorily approved military escorts” of Nuhu Ribadu, the national security adviser NSA).

The army said the soldiers would escort Ribadu to leave the venue at the end of the meeting.

“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,” the army said in a statement.

“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 STRIKE ACTION

On Monday, activities in public schools, government offices, airports, and many public institutions were grounded owing to the indefinite strike declared by the labour.

The labour unions declared an indefinite strike due to the federal government’s inability to agree with the proposed minimum wage.

The NLC and TUC have repeatedly proposed N615,500 and N494,000 as the new national minimum wage, citing inflation and the prevailing economic hardship in the country.