Wednesday December 17, 2025
www.thenewsdesk.ng
Ahead of today’s nationwide protests by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, the police have mobilised special forces and tactical teams to ensure a violence-free demonstration.
State police commands, in separate interviews with The PUNCH on Tuesday, December 16, confirmed their readiness to tackle miscreants and political hirelings who may want to disrupt the rallies.
The NLC had stated that it would not retract its planned nationwide protests, which were called in response to the escalating insecurity in the country and other labour issues.
When asked if the NLC has mobilised its affiliate unions for the rallies, the spokesperson for the congress, Benson Upah, stated, “We are going on with the protest across the country.”
He warned that any attempt to interfere with today’s National Day of Protest and Mourning could spark a nationwide indefinite strike.
Upah, in a statement on Tuesday, December 16, explained that the union had received intelligence suggesting that unscrupulous agencies and desperate political hirelings might try to infiltrate or violently disrupt the demonstrations.
He added that harming even a single worker or citizen would trigger an immediate and indefinite shutdown across all sectors of the economy.
“Our action tomorrow is not just a mere procession; it 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,” the statement read.
‘’Any attack on our protest will be an attack on the very engine of Nigeria. The consequence will be an escalation and a total shutdown,” the union warned.
The protest is linked to broader labour grievances, including unresolved agreements with the Federal Government, rising cost of living, and the impact of insecurity on workers’ productivity, safety and livelihoods.
The union highlighted the deaths of countless members, teachers, farmers, miners, and other artisans amid escalating insecurity and government inaction.
The NLC framed the protest as a civic action, not just a labour issue, aimed at mobilising public opinion and compelling authorities to prioritise security and governance reforms.
In announcing the protest, the NLC directed its state chapters across the 36 states and the FCT to mobilise members for peaceful demonstrations, emphasising that the action is lawful and constitutionally protected.
In a notice issued to all state councils on December 10, after its National Executive Committee -in-session meeting held on December 4, the labour centre condemned the activities of bandits and kidnappers across the country and the government’s failure to address the situation.
The NEC had expressed serious concern over the country’s worsening security situation, including the abduction of 24 schoolgirls in Kebbi State on 17 November 2025, during which two staff members were killed.
It condemned the withdrawal of security personnel prior to the attack and called for urgent government intervention.
“The surge in kidnappings targeting schoolchildren has reached an alarming and unacceptable level,” read the communiqué issued after its meeting.
The union, in its statement on Tuesday, urged all workers, students, traders, and citizens to remain disciplined, peaceful, and united. “Solidarity is our shield,” it said.
The NLC also called on the police, who have been informed of the protest, to protect citizens’ democratic right to assemble and express their grievances.
The protest, first announced following the NLC’s National Executive Council meeting on December 4, 2025, is intended as a response to a wide range of national crises.
According to the World Bank’s Nigeria Development Update, released in October 2025, approximately 139 million Nigerians, about 61–62 per cent of the population, are living in poverty, a sharp increase from previous years.
The union has previously stressed that protests are necessary to draw attention to government failures in addressing insecurity, economic hardship, industrial disputes, and political accountability.
The union raised concerns about the tertiary education sector, noting that university infrastructure continues to deteriorate, teaching and research resources remain outdated, and staff allowances are often unpaid.
The NEC criticised the Federal Government’s use of divide-and-rule tactics, which undermine union unity and stall negotiations. It urged the government to implement a fair and uniform remuneration framework for all university workers while recognising the unique needs of different professional groups.
