Defence HQ Clarifies Presence of Soldiers at NLC-Govt Talks

The Army Headquarters has refuted the Nigerian Labour Congress’s (NLC) claim that soldiers were surrounding the venue of an ongoing meeting between the NLC and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) on Monday night.

The NLC had raised concerns on its official X account about the presence of soldiers at the meeting venue. However, the Army Headquarters clarified in an official statement on its X account that the military presence was part of the routine security detail for National Security Adviser (NSA) Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, who was also attending the meeting.

According to the Army, the NSA arrived with his approved military escorts to ensure his security. The escorts will leave the venue with him once the meeting concludes.

The statement from the Army Headquarters read: “The attention of Army Headquarters has been drawn to a false breaking news by NLC alleging that soldiers currently surround the venue of the ongoing meeting between NLC and the SGF.

“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. 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.”