Members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Wednesday staged a nationwide protest to draw attention to the country’s worsening insecurity and deepening economic hardship.
In Abuja, protesters gathered early at the NLC Secretariat, popularly known as Labour House, where union leaders and civil society activists addressed supporters before marching. Leading the protest were NLC President, Joe Ajaero, and prominent activist Omoyele Sowore, alongside members of the Revolution Now Movement.
The demonstration went ahead despite last-minute efforts by President Bola Tinubu, who met with NLC leaders late Tuesday in an attempt to halt the action. Speaking to journalists, Ajaero said the meeting did not produce any agreement strong enough to suspend the protest.
Similar scenes played out in Lagos, where protesters converged in Ikeja, carrying placards and chanting slogans demanding urgent government action to end violent crimes, kidnappings, and economic hardship.
Expressing frustration, one protester told News Central TV that kidnappers should face the toughest punishment possible, describing the current situation as intolerable.
The protest was first announced following the NLC’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on December 4, 2025, as part of a broader response to what the union described as a national security emergency.
The NEC specifically cited the abduction of 24 schoolgirls in Kebbi State on November 17, during which two school staff were killed. The union condemned the withdrawal of security personnel before the attack and accused the government of failing to protect citizens.
Beyond insecurity, the NLC said the protest also highlights unresolved labour agreements with the Federal Government, rising living costs, and the growing impact of violence on workers’ safety, productivity, and livelihoods.
According to the union, teachers, farmers, miners, artisans, and other workers have lost their lives in various attacks across the country, with little accountability or meaningful response from authorities.
Describing the protest as a civic responsibility, the NLC said the action is aimed at mobilising public pressure and compelling government leaders to prioritise security and governance reforms.
In a circular issued to its state chapters on December 10, the union stressed that the demonstrations were peaceful, lawful, and protected by the Constitution.
“The surge in kidnappings, especially those targeting schoolchildren, has reached an alarming and unacceptable level,” the NEC said in its communiqué.
The NLC also urged the police who were formally notified ahead of the protest to protect citizens exercising their democratic right to peaceful assembly.
“Solidarity is our shield,” the union declared.
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