Ahead of today’s nationwide protests by the Nigeria Labour Congress, 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, 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, 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.
Meanwhile, the Federal Workers Forum has thrown its full weight behind the planned nationwide protest by the NLC, describing it as a “national assignment” critical to the survival of the country.’’
In a statement signed by Andrew Emelieze, the National Coordinator of the FWF, alongside Secretary-General Ayo Ogundele and Mobilisation Officer Aliyu Ibrahim, the federal workers expressed readiness to participate in the protest, calling on all Nigerians to join in solidarity. “This protest is not for workers alone; it is a duty for our collective survival,” the statement said.
The forum cited worsening insecurity, poor governance, dilapidated public services, and the harsh economic realities confronting Nigerians as reasons for the urgent protest.
“Nigeria is now like a state of nature; uncertainty and fear have become the hallmark of our daily lives. Governance has reached the lowest ebb, and we cannot continue to witness this pervasive hopelessness,” the FWF said.The forum specifically criticised the government’s handling of public sector strikes and wage arrears, noting that health workers have been left unsupported, education remains underfunded, and federal employees were owed backlogs of pay.
Similarly, the Joint Aviation Trade Unions Forum said its members would participate in the protest. It, however, assured that aviation operations will not be disrupted as workers would continue to render services.
Speaking on the planned action, the Secretary of the Joint Aviation Trade Unions Forum, Nnadi Hector, said the protest was aimed at drawing attention to insecurity across the country.
“NLC is saying that there is insecurity in Nigeria. Government should do something,” he said.
Hector described the action as peaceful and lawful, noting that it fell within the constitutional rights of workers and would not involve a shutdown of services.
“And it’s a peaceful protest. This is normal. It’s within your fundamental rights. Everybody is joining them as long as you are a member of NLC; they are not withdrawing services tomorrow,” he stated.
According to him, participation would vary among workers, as some would be on duty while others joined the protest.
“Some people will join, some people will continue the work. It’s not a strike,” he said.
He further explained that the protest was not limited to aviation workers alone but involved all unions affiliated with the NLC.
“It’s not just exclusive to aviation unions that are joining the protest. All the unions are meant to join the protest. If NLC calls for a protest, all unions will join the protest,” Hector said.
He added that unions would only deploy a specific number of members to participate in order to press their demands.
“It’s not as if all the numbers in a union will join the protest. They will request a particular number to join them to press their demand,” he added.In the same vein, the Public Relations Officer of the Gombe State Police Command, Buhari Abdullahi, said all arrangements have been put in place to ensure a peaceful rally.
“All necessary arrangements have been made to ensure full security for the rally, as strategic security deployments have been carried out.
“The Commissioner of Police has assured the NLC of full security coverage for a smooth procession.”
Also, the Bauchi State police command confirmed it would deploy personnel to ensure a peaceful protest by the NLC in the state.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Habib Nafiu, said the command was aware of the planned nationwide protest and had taken proactive steps to guarantee public safety.
Nafiu noted that the NLC is a structured and organised union made up of educated members drawn from non-governmental organisations and government establishments, stressing that its members are law-abiding citizens with the constitutional right to embark on peaceful protests.
“The Nigeria Labour Congress is a formal organisation. Its members are citizens of this country, and they have the right to protest peacefully,” he said.The PPRO further disclosed that the command would be holding a security summit on Wednesday as part of broader efforts to tackle insecurity and violent crimes in the state.
According to her, the summit, themed ‘Taking Back Our Communities: The Police–Public Partnership Against Violent Crimes’, is aimed at strengthening collaboration between security agencies and members of the public in the fight against crime and criminality.
She added that the command was intensifying community engagement and intelligence-led policing to address security challenges in Kwara State, particularly amid concerns over kidnapping, banditry and other violent crimes in parts of the state.
The punch
