By Uche Amunike
The Nigerian Labor Congress has announced their plan for carrying out a nationwide protest, Thursday 17 December 2025 to demand that the Federal Government acts on certain pressing national crisis being experienced in the country today, including the worsening state of insecurity, the dwindling tertiary education system, concerns over political interference in the Labour Party, as well as the ongoing strike by the health sector, etc.
This announcement was made after the union’s National Executive Council meeting held at the NLC Sub-Secretariat in Yaba, Lagos, on Thursday 4, December 2025.
The Nigerian Labour Congress expressed their concerns over the worsening security situation in the country in the communique released after the meeting, citing the abduction of 24 girls from a boarding school in Kebbi State on November 17, 2025 during which two staff members were also killed.
They also condemned the withdrawal of security personnel before the attack, tagging it as a ‘dastardly and criminal action’, While warning that the level of kidnappings targeted at school children in Nigerian schools has reached an alarming level and requires immediate action by the Nigerian government.
According to the Nigerian Labour Congress, reports from the World Bank Nigeria Development Update states that approximately 139 million people are living in poverty in Nigeria as at 2025, representing about 61 to 62% of Nigerians total population. This indicates a sharp increase from previous years and highlights that poverty has deepened despite ongoing economic reforms.
The union called on the Federal Government to take prompt steps to protect schools, especially those situated in high risk or remote areas, as well as a full investigation and prosecution of all individuals responsible for lapses in security.
They also expressed deep concerns about the ongoing crisis in the education sector as the university’s infrastructure continues to deteriorate, research and teaching resources remain outdated and most times staff allowances not paid.
The Nigerian Labour Congress further condemned the Federal Government’s use of divide-and rule tactics which undermined unity among nations and stalled in negotiations. They urged the government to stop these strategies and implement a fair and uniform remuneration Framework for every category of university workers while also recognizing the peculiarities of different professional groups.
The National Executive Council reviewed the ongoing strike by the Joint Health Sector Unions which started on November 14, 2025. The NLC expressed their concern over the withdrawal of nurses from the industrial action and warned that if negotiations with the federal government failed, the NLC and all its affiliates will join the strike in full solidarity.
The Nigerian Labor Congress concluded that the planned mass mobilization on December 17, 2025 is expedient in order to draw attention to the failures of the government in addressing insecurity, industrial disputes, political integrity and economic hardship in the country.
They further reaffirmed their commitment to protecting the rights of workers, improving the living and working conditions of Nigerians and defending the citizenry generally.
