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Labour union to mobilise nationwide over worsening insecurity and school attacks.
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NEC condemns kidnapping of 24 schoolgirls, killing of staff, and withdrawal of security before attack.
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Failure to act on insecurity, education and health crises may trigger wider industrial actions.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has declared that it will stage a nationwide protest on December 17 to demand urgent government action on the country’s worsening insecurity.
The decision was contained in a communiqué issued on Monday after the NLC National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Lagos, signed by the president, Joe Ajaero, and acting general secretary, Benson Upah.
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According to the communiqué, the NEC reviewed critical national and industrial concerns, with particular attention to the abduction of 24 schoolgirls in Kebbi State and the killing of a school staff member during the attack. The congress condemned the incident, faulted the withdrawal of security operatives from the school prior to the attack, and described the rising assaults on educational institutions as “deeply alarming.”
The NEC urged the Federal Government to immediately fortify security in schools, especially in remote and high-risk areas, insisting that the safety of pupils and teachers must not be compromised.
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The NLC said all affiliates and state councils would be fully mobilised for the December 17 protest, adding that those responsible for security failures must be investigated and prosecuted.
Other issues discussed at the NEC meeting included the persistent crisis in the tertiary education sector, the ongoing strike by the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), and the revival of the Labour–Civil Society Coalition (LASCO). The NEC also expressed concern about the state of the Labour Party, calling for its realignment with working-class ideology and integrity.
The communiqué warned that the government’s failure to address insecurity and other pressing challenges could lead to broader industrial actions across key sectors, including health and education. It stressed that protecting workers’ lives and welfare remains central to the NLC’s mandate.
The NEC maintained that the planned protest would be peaceful but firm, aimed at compelling swift and decisive government action. It further urged state governments and security agencies to intensify protection for vulnerable communities and schools, warning that continued neglect could threaten national stability.
The congress reaffirmed its commitment to defending workers’ rights, improving working conditions and upholding social justice and equitable development across the country.
