Security agencies across Nigeria have deployed special forces and tactical teams ahead of today’s nationwide protest organised by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), as the union insists it will not back down on its planned demonstrations over worsening insecurity and economic hardship.
State police commands, speaking separately on Tuesday, confirmed heightened security arrangements to ensure the protests remain peaceful and are not hijacked by miscreants or political agents.
The NLC, however, warned that any attempt to disrupt the protest or harm participants could trigger a nationwide indefinite strike.
Confirming the union’s readiness, NLC spokesperson, Benson Upah, said, “We are going on with the protest across the country.” He disclosed that the congress had received intelligence reports suggesting that certain “unscrupulous agencies and desperate political hirelings” might attempt to infiltrate or violently disrupt the rallies.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Upah described the protest as more than a labour action. “Our action is a collective act of grief, a roar of despair from the oppressed, and a democratic demand for the fundamental right to life and security,” he said. He warned that any attack on protesters would result in a total shutdown of the economy.
The protest is tied to broader grievances, including unresolved agreements with the Federal Government, rising cost of living, unpaid wages and allowances, deteriorating public services, and the impact of insecurity on workers’ lives and productivity.
The NLC cited the deaths of teachers, farmers, miners, artisans, and other citizens amid escalating violence, as well as government inaction. It also expressed concern over the increasing spate of kidnappings, particularly the abduction of 24 schoolgirls in Kebbi State on November 17, 2025, during which two staff members were killed.
Following its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on December 4, the labour centre directed its state chapters across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to mobilise members for peaceful demonstrations, stressing that the protest is lawful and constitutionally protected.
According to the World Bank’s Nigeria Development Update released in October 2025, about 139 million Nigerians—over 60 per cent of the population—are currently living in poverty, a statistic the NLC said underscores the urgency of its action.
Support for the protest has continued to grow. The Federal Workers Forum (FWF) described the action as a “national assignment” essential for the country’s survival. In a joint statement signed by its leaders, the forum cited insecurity, poor governance, wage arrears, and decaying public infrastructure as reasons for mass participation.
Similarly, the Joint Aviation Trade Unions Forum confirmed its participation but assured that aviation operations would not be disrupted. Its secretary, Nnadi Hector, stressed that the protest is peaceful, lawful, and not a strike.
Across the states, police commands confirmed extensive deployments. In Benue, Jigawa, Sokoto, Imo, Bayelsa, Kano, Gombe, Bauchi, Akwa Ibom and Kwara, police authorities said personnel, tactical units, and in some cases drone surveillance, had been deployed to protect protesters and maintain law and order.
Police spokespersons in several states acknowledged the NLC’s constitutional right to peaceful assembly and said engagements had been held with labour leaders to ensure orderly conduct.
As Nigerians take to the streets today, both labour leaders and security agencies have called for discipline, restraint and unity, with the NLC insisting that “solidarity is our shield” and warning that the outcome of the protest could shape the country’s next labour action.
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