Despite a late night meeting with President Bola Tinubu with some All Progressives Governors and Minister of State for labour’s attending, the Nigeria Labour Congress gathered at its Secretariat, Labour House, Abuja, on Wednesday to start its nationwide protest against rising insecurity and worsening economic conditions across the country.
The meeting which took place around midnight at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, with the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governors, led by tits Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum and Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma had Edo and Kebbi State governors Monday Okpebholo and Dr Nasir Idris as well as the Minister of State for Labour, Mrs. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha attending ,while Ajaero led the Labour leaders to the meeting on Tuesday night at the State House, Abuja, presidential spokesperson, bayo Onanuga said.
Ajaero had told journalists on Tuesday after the meeting with Tinubu that it was consultative, adding that the Labour would deliberate internally before taking a final decision.
“We came for consultation with the President and we are done. We have to go back to our meeting and then continue tomorrow. By tomorrow, we will get the outcome,” Ajaero said.
Channels TV reports that Ajaero, Omoyele Sowore and colleagues from the Revolution Now Movement. Were leading the protest in Abuja.
In a notice issued to state chapters on December 10, the union called peaceful demonstrations, defending that the action is lawful and constitutionally protected.
“The surge in kidnappings targeting schoolchildren has reached an alarming and unacceptable level,” the NEC communiqué said.
The NLC also called on the police, who were notified of the protest, to protect citizens’ democratic right to assemble and express their grievances. “Solidarity is our shield,” the union said.
Also, the protest is taking place in Lagos as the protesters gathered at Ikeja, clutching placards and chanting slogans demanding urgent action to curb violent crimes and kidnappings.
A member of the NLC told the News Central TV that “any kidnapper should be sentenced to death… They should kill them immediately.”
The NLC first said it would embark on the protest after the National Executive Council meeting on December 4, 2025, in response to a wide range of national crises.
The NEC expressed concern over escalating insecurity, including the abduction of 24 schoolgirls in Kebbi State on November 17, during which two staff members were killed. The union condemned the withdrawal of security personnel prior to the attack and called for urgent government intervention.
The protest by the labour was on unresolved agreements with the Federal Government, rising cost of living and the impact of insecurity on workers’ productivity, safety and livelihoods.
The NLC noted the deaths of numerous members, teachers, farmers, miners and other artisans amid rising insecurity and government inaction.
It said its action was a civic duty, adding that it would mobilise public opinion and compel authorities to prioritise security and governance reforms.
