Members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Wednesday staged a nationwide protest against worsening insecurity and deteriorating economic conditions across the country.
In Abuja, protesters converged at the NLC Secretariat, Labour House, despite last-minute efforts by President Bola Tinubu to halt the action. The President had met with NLC leaders on Tuesday night, but the union’s President, Joe Ajaero, told journalists that the talks failed to produce any agreement capable of stopping the protest.
According to Channels Television, the Abuja protest was led by Ajaero alongside civil society allies, including Omoyele Sowore and members of the Revolution Now Movement.
Simultaneously in Lagos, protesters gathered in Ikeja, carrying placards and chanting slogans demanding urgent government action to end violent crimes, kidnappings, and general insecurity.
Speaking to News Central TV during the Lagos protest, one NLC member expressed outrage over rising kidnappings, calling for the toughest penalties against perpetrators.
The protest was first announced following the NLC’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held on December 4, 2025, where the union resolved to mobilise members nationwide in response to what it described as multiple national crises.
A key trigger for the action was the abduction of 24 schoolgirls in Kebbi State on November 17, during which two school staff were reportedly killed. The NLC condemned the withdrawal of security personnel before the attack and accused authorities of failing to act decisively to protect citizens.
Beyond insecurity, the union said the protest also reflects long-standing labour concerns, including unresolved agreements with the Federal Government, rising cost of living, and the growing impact of insecurity on workers’ safety, productivity, and livelihoods.
The NLC noted that many of its members—alongside teachers, farmers, miners, and other artisans—have been killed in recent months, blaming persistent government inaction for the worsening situation.
Describing the protest as a civic responsibility, the union said it aims to galvanise public opinion and compel authorities to prioritise security reforms and effective governance.
In a notice circulated to its state chapters on December 10, the NLC urged members to conduct peaceful demonstrations, stressing that the action is lawful and protected by the Constitution.
“The surge in kidnappings targeting schoolchildren has reached an alarming and unacceptable level,” the NEC said in its communiqué.
The NLC also called on the Nigeria Police Force, which was formally notified ahead of the protest, to safeguard citizens’ right to peaceful assembly and expression.
“Solidarity is our shield,” the union declared.
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