The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has announced a nationwide protest set for Thursday, December 17, 2025, to highlight the growing crises facing Nigeria. The protest is primarily motivated by increasing insecurity, the deteriorating state of tertiary education, ongoing health sector strikes, and concerns about political interference in the Labour Party.

This declaration follows a meeting of the NLC’s National Executive Council held at the union’s Sub-Secretariat in Yaba, Lagos, on December 4, 2025. The union expressed deep concern over the state of affairs in the country, stressing that urgent action is required to address these critical issues.

Key Issues Driving the Protest

1. Worsening Insecurity:
   The NLC expressed alarm over the country’s escalating security challenges. In particular, the union condemned the abduction of 24 girls from a boarding school in Kebbi State on November 17, 2025, during which two staff members were killed. The NLC accused the government of failing to provide adequate security, citing the withdrawal of security personnel from the area before the attack. The union warned that kidnappings targeting schoolchildren have reached alarming levels and demanded immediate government intervention to safeguard schools, especially in remote and high-risk areas.
2. Economic Hardship:
   The union also highlighted the economic distress affecting millions of Nigerians. According to the World Bank’s Nigeria Development Update (released in October 2025), approximately 139 million people, or around 61-62% of Nigeria’s population, now live in poverty. The NLC expressed concern that economic hardship is disproportionately affecting working-class Nigerians, with many struggling to meet basic needs.
3. Crisis in Tertiary Education:
   The NLC raised serious concerns over the state of Nigeria’s tertiary education sector. It described university infrastructure as being in decay, with outdated teaching and research resources. The union pointed out that university staff are often unpaid and that the crisis is contributing to an environment that hampers educational progress. The NLC called for fair pay for university workers and a significant investment in the sector to address its numerous challenges.
4. Health Sector Strikes:
   The union also referenced the ongoing strike by the Joint Health Sector Unions, which began on November 14, 2025. The strike, which has seen some nurses abandon the action, has raised concerns over the quality of healthcare services in Nigeria. The NLC warned that if the negotiations with the government do not yield a positive outcome, the NLC and its affiliates may decide to join the strike fully.
5. Political Interference in the Labour Party:
   In its political assessment, the NLC expressed concern over interference in the Labour Party by the Nenadi Usman-led Caretaker Committee, criticizing the actions as undermining the integrity of the party. The NLC announced the revival of the Labour–Civil Society Coalition to foster collaboration on national issues and said it would withdraw its members from the Caretaker Committee. The union also indicated that it would seek alliances with political parties that support the principles of the working class.

The NLC’s Call to Action

The NLC stressed that the planned protest is a response to what it sees as the government’s failure in multiple critical areas, including security, economic hardship, industrial disputes, and political integrity. The union hopes to draw national attention to these issues and push for accountability from the government.

The union has called on workers, students, and civil society organizations to join the protest, which it views as an important step in holding the government accountable and advocating for solutions to the various challenges facing Nigeria’s people.

Summary of the NLC’s Demands:

• Enhanced security measures to protect schools and communities, particularly in high-risk areas.
• Fair pay for university workers and improvements in the infrastructure and resources of Nigeria’s tertiary education system.
• Resolution of ongoing health sector strikes with adequate investments in the sector and workers’ rights.
• Political reform within the Labour Party, including the withdrawal of the NLC from any committees perceived to be compromised by political interference.

As the December 17 protest draws near, the NLC has made it clear that it will continue to fight for the rights of workers, students, and all Nigerians suffering from the government’s failure to address these systemic issues. The union’s call to action comes at a time of great national unrest, and the outcome of this protest could have significant implications for the future of Nigeria’s political and socio-economic landscape.