Political engagements ahead of the 2027 general elections intensified on Tuesday as President Bola Tinubu held a high-level meeting with state governors and leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The meeting, convened by governors under the Progressive Governors Forum, took place at the State House Banquet Hall within Aso Rock, with President Tinubu attending as Special Guest of Honour. The engagement is widely viewed as part of broader efforts to manage labour relations and political alignments as preparations for the 2027 polls gradually take shape.
Officials familiar with the discussions said the summit was aimed at strengthening dialogue between the Federal Government, state governments and organised labour, especially amid mounting economic pressures. Rising inflation, cost-of-living challenges, and the lingering effects of fuel subsidy removal have strained labour–government relations in recent months, making direct engagement increasingly critical.
During the meeting, labour leaders were expected to formally present their charter of demands to the President. Key items reportedly include improved wages, stronger job security, enhanced pensions, expanded healthcare coverage and unemployment safety nets. The NLC is also pushing for the creation of a Just Transition Fund to cushion workers and communities affected by economic reforms and climate-related transitions.
Other demands include large-scale green job creation, investments in renewable energy and sustainable industries, skills development programmes, and structured inclusion of labour representatives in economic policy formulation. Organised labour is also seeking guarantees against mass layoffs and government-backed retraining initiatives for workers transitioning into new sectors.
Sources within labour circles described the meeting as pivotal, noting that the NLC’s capacity to mobilise millions of workers nationwide gives it significant influence over public opinion. Observers believe the outcome of the talks could shape political relationships ahead of 2027, determining whether negotiation and dialogue prevail over industrial action and street protests in addressing labour grievances.
