Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Abuja, Nigeria — In a dramatic continuation of nationwide demonstrations, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) went ahead with planned protests across the country today despite a late-night meeting between the union’s leadership and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu aimed at averting the action. The move reflects deep-seated frustrations within organised labour and among broad sections of Nigerian society over the government’s handling of pervasive insecurity and other socio-economic challenges that have battered workers and communities nationwide.
The protests, which commenced on Wednesday morning at designated convergence points in major cities including Abuja, Lagos, and Lokoja, unfolded hours after organised labour leaders met with President Tinubu in what was described as a last-minute attempt to persuade the NLC to shelve the nationwide action. The meeting, held late Tuesday night at the State House in Abuja, brought together NLC President Joe Ajaero and the union’s senior leadership, alongside representatives from the Progressives Governors’ Forum and federal officials, including the Minister of Labour and Employment.
However, the outcome of the closed-door talks did not result in the cancellation of the protest. Following the engagement, Mr Ajaero told journalists that the union’s deliberations on the meeting would continue internally, signalling that labour’s organs would assess the discussions before determining the final course of action. In his remarks, Ajaero suggested that the meeting was consultative and that a conclusive decision on the protest would come only after additional internal consultations.
By dawn on Wednesday, hundreds of NLC members and affiliates began assembling at the NLC Secretariat in Abuja, carrying placards and shouting slogans decrying the government’s perceived failure to protect citizens from rampant insecurity. Among those present were civil society allies, including activist Omoyele Sowore, who joined the protest to voice solidarity with workers and amplify calls for decisive action on insecurity.
In Lagos, similar scenes played out with labour activists and rank-and-file members gathering at the Ikeja Underpass before marching along key arterial roads. Demonstrators held banners with messages such as “End Insecurity Now!” and “Workers Deserve Safety and Dignity,” reflecting widespread anger over kidnappings, banditry, and violent crime that have disrupted daily life and jeopardised livelihoods.
The protests are rooted in months of mobilisation by Nigeria’s main labour federation, which last week directed all NLC state councils to mobilise for a National Day of Protest and Mourning on December 17, specifically to highlight the deteriorating security situation and demand urgent and sustained government action. Notices issued by the union’s spokesperson outlined plans for peaceful processions along designated routes to voice workers’ grievances and press for reforms.
Security agencies anticipated the demonstrations, placing commands across the country on high alert and deploying tactical units to key locations to ensure the protests remained peaceful. A wireless directive from the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters instructed commissioners of police to strengthen operational strategies, maintain a visible presence, and engage with labour leaders and civil society to discourage any disruption or hijacking of the events by criminal elements.
Security officials also emphasised the importance of respecting fundamental rights while maintaining public order. In statements ahead of the protest, police commanders noted that adequate deployments had been made in strategic locations in several states, with explicit instructions to ensure peaceful conduct and to prevent hijacking of the demonstrations by opportunistic actors.
The context for the nationwide protest extends beyond insecurity. Although the immediate trigger is violence and criminality that have claimed countless lives and fuelled fear among citizens, the NLC’s action also encompasses broader socio-economic grievances. Workers have raised concerns about rising living costs, unresolved agreements with the federal government, and the erosion of safety nets that once helped cushion vulnerable Nigerians from hardship. While the union has historically focused on labour rights, living wages, and working conditions, the inclusion of insecurity as a core demand highlights the human cost of violence and the knock-on effects on livelihoods and worker welfare.
Throughout the morning, reports from state chapters indicated that the demonstrations were proceeding largely peacefully, with long lines of marchers maintaining orderly conduct. In Kogi State, for example, the NLC chapter and its affiliate unions marched from Zenith Bank Junction to the Government House in Lokoja, where security operatives were present to ensure the peace. The procession was described as peaceful, with participants expressing determination to sustain public pressure on authorities to address insecurity.
Despite the heavy mobilisation and visible security presence, some analysts noted that the persistence of the protests — even after high-level dialogue with the presidency — reflects a pronounced distrust between organised labour and government institutions. The NLC leadership appears to view the dialogue as only an initial step, insufficient on its own to mollify workers who feel that everyday Nigerians continue to bear the brunt of insecurity and economic stress without meaningful government intervention.
The demonstrations have also drawn responses from ordinary citizens and commuters who encountered the protests. In cities like Lagos and Abuja, early-morning commuters watched as workers marched and chanted, signalling widespread public resonance with the calls for greater security and accountability. Some respondents expressed sympathy with the union’s stance, lamenting the everyday anxieties associated with travel, commerce, and family safety in the face of unchecked crime and kidnappings.
Public sentiment appears to underscore a perception that insecurity is not merely a security challenge but a national crisis with far-reaching implications for economic activity, investment, and social cohesion. Workers often traverse long distances to access jobs or return home after shifts, and the threat of violence or abduction looms large over routine activities. This pervasive fear has fed into the NLC’s broader narrative that urgent, sustainable solutions must be prioritised if Nigerians are to reclaim a sense of normalcy and confidence.
The Tinubu administration has not yet issued an official statement on the protest’s progression or details of its late-night engagement with labour leaders. Government representatives are understood to be monitoring developments and consulting with security and political stakeholders to calibrate responses that balance civic freedoms with public order.
As the day’s demonstrations unfold, the union has signalled that subsequent actions will be determined by the government’s responsiveness to the core issues raised. There is also the possibility, according to union warnings, that any interference or violent disruption of the protests could prompt an indefinite nationwide strike, escalating labour pressure beyond street demonstrations.
For now, the nationwide protests represent a defining moment in Nigeria’s labour activism and civic engagement, illustrating the capacity of organised labour to mobilise across states and sectors in pursuit of protective and socio-economic rights. Whether the demonstrations spark further negotiation, policy shifts, or sustained national discourse remains to be seen, but the events of today signal a charged intersection between labour, governance, and citizens’ aspirations for security and stability.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments