The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Mr. Joe Ajaero, has explained why the workers’ protest was suspended after a successful outing on day one of its two-day proposed protests all over the country.

Basking in the euphoria of a successful protest nationwide, the National Executive Council (NEC) in a communique issued after a crucial meeting in Abuja said the objectives of the protest were achieved on the first day of the demonstration.

“Consequently, NEC-in-session resolved as follows: to suspend street action for the second day of the Protest having achieved overwhelming success thus attained the key objectives of the 2-day protest on the first day,” the communique partly read.

In the communique late Tuesday, the highest organ of the NLC suspended “street action for the second day of the Protest having achieved overwhelming success thus attained the key objectives of the 2-day protest on the first day”.

“However, Nationwide action continues tomorrow with simultaneous Press Conferences across all the states of the federation by the state Councils of the Congress including the National Headquarters.

“To reaffirm and extend the 7-day ultimatum by another 7 days which now expires on the 13th day of March, 2024 within which the Government is expected to implement all the earlier agreement of the 2nd day of October, 2023 and other demands presented in our letter during today’s nationwide protest.

The communique said NEC would meet and decide on further lines of action if on the expiration of the 14days Government refuses to comply with the demands as contained in the ultimatum.

Nigeria is battling rising inflation, food inflation, forex crisis, economic hardship and high cost of living occasioned by the removal of petrol subsidy, attracting protests in parts of the country.

The federal government had engaged labour leaders in a last-minute talks on Monday night to call off the protest but the meeting ended in a stalemate as the NLC insisted that the protest was going to hold.

Subsequently, the NLC hit the streets and grounded economic activities across the country on Tuesday, with Comrade Joe Ajaero, explaining that the protest was about hunger and not just a clamour for a review of the minimum wage.

“You have to understand it. This protest is about hunger. What of those who are not working? The minimum wage, when will it be completed? When will it be implemented? What will be the minimum wage that will remove hunger?” Comrade Ajaero said before he led workers on the streets.