The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has announced plans to stage a nationwide protest against escalating insecurity in Nigeria, stating that the ongoing failure to safeguard lives and property has reached an unacceptable threshold.
In a firm press release on Monday, the NLC revealed that its National Executive Council (NEC) had decided to mobilise Nigerian workers and citizens for simultaneous protests across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Wednesday, December 17, 2025.
The labour organisation stated that the action is in solidarity with millions of Nigerians who have faced violence, abductions, displacement, economic hardship and psychological distress due to rampant insecurity across the country.
The NLC noted that insecurity has severely impacted communities, disrupted livelihoods and placed both workers and the general public at continual risk, while government efforts have largely been superficial and ineffective.
“Our protest seeks justice for Nigerians, especially workers whose lives have been shattered by the insecurity epidemic,” the statement emphasised.
The Congress accused all levels of government of neglecting their fundamental constitutional duty to protect citizens, noting that insecurity has eroded public trust, hampered economic productivity and exacerbated poverty nationwide.
In addition to the protests, the NLC is advocating essential governance reforms to address the socio-economic injustices it identifies as underlying contributors to insecurity, including unemployment, inequality and systemic neglect.
The labour group also demanded the identification and prosecution of those who fund violence, arguing that impunity has emboldened criminal elements and worsened the security crisis.
During the nationwide demonstration, workers are expected to deliver protest letters to leaders at various levels and arms of government.
While stressing that the protest will be peaceful, the NLC called on all peace-loving Nigerians to participate, describing the action as a significant step towards restoring national dignity and order.
“Nigerian workers are saying enough with the excuses and empty rhetoric. We demand action. We want our lives to matter,” the Congress declared.
The statement, signed by Comrade Benson Upah, Acting General Secretary of the NLC, and dated December 15, 2025, underscored labour’s growing determination to confront what it described as the nation’s most pressing existential crisis.
With insecurity remaining a central issue in national discourse, the planned protest will serve as a measure of government responsiveness to public discontent and of labour’s role as a leading advocate for social justice in Nigeria.
