Nigeria Labour Congress Holds Nationwide Protest Over Rising Insecurity
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has launched its planned nationwide protest against increasing insecurity across Nigeria. The demonstrations, which began early Wednesday, are taking place in major cities, including Lagos, Abuja, and other states.
The protest comes despite a meeting between President Bola Tinubu and NLC leaders, including NLC President Joe Ajaero, at the State House on Tuesday night. After the meeting, Ajaero stated that the union would review the President’s proposals before deciding the next steps. “We go go bak to di drawing board and digest evritin wey Mr Presido don say to us, and we go move forward from dia,” he said.
Reports indicate that while NLC members in some areas, like Lagos, have already taken to the streets, others are gathering and awaiting instructions from the union leadership. Authorities and citizens are monitoring the situation closely.
The NLC explained that the protest is a response to the rising insecurity in Nigeria, including kidnappings, killings, and general lawlessness affecting ordinary citizens. NLC spokesman Benson Upah described the demonstration as a “National Day of Protest and Mourning”, emphasizing that the action is both a collective expression of grief and a demand for citizens’ right to life and security.
Upah also warned that any violent interference with the protests could trigger an immediate and indefinite shutdown across all sectors of the economy. “Any attack on our protest go be attack for di very engine of Nigeria. Di consequence go be escalation and total shutdown,” he said.
The NLC protest highlights the growing frustration among Nigerian workers and citizens over security challenges, calling on the government to take urgent and effective action to protect lives and property.
