The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has announced a nationwide protest scheduled for December 17 in response to worsening insecurity across the country. The decision was contained in a communiqué jointly signed by NLC President Joe Ajaero and Acting General Secretary Benson Upah, issued on Monday after the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Lagos.
According to the communiqué, the NEC reviewed urgent national and industrial concerns, including the abduction of 24 schoolgirls in Kebbi. It condemned the kidnapping and the killing of a school staffer, as well as the reported withdrawal of security personnel from the school before the attack. Describing the rising assaults on educational institutions as “alarming,” the NEC urged the Federal Government to prioritise the protection of schools, especially those in remote and high-risk areas.
The NEC said it would mobilise all NLC affiliates and state councils for the December 17 protest, insisting on an immediate intervention and prosecution of those responsible for security failures. It also discussed other critical issues such as the tertiary education sector, the ongoing JOHESU strike, and the revival of the Labour-Civil Society Coalition (LASCO). The communiqué noted growing concern over the state of the Labour Party and called on members to realign the party with “working-class principles, ideology and integrity.”
Warning that government inaction on insecurity and other unresolved matters could trigger wider industrial action in sectors like health and education, the NLC stressed that workers' safety and welfare remained central to its advocacy. It said the planned protest would be peaceful but firm, aimed at pressing the government to act decisively. The NEC also urged state governments and security agencies to strengthen protection for vulnerable communities and schools, cautioning that continued neglect could threaten national stability.
Reaffirming its commitment to defending workers’ rights and championing social justice, the NLC pledged to support efforts that promote equitable development across the country.