The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has declared a nationwide protest for Thursday, December 17, 2025, in response to what it describes as mounting insecurity, a deteriorating education system, persistent industrial disputes in the health sector, and growing political interference in the Labour Party.
The decision followed a meeting of the NLC National Executive Council (NEC) held on December 4 at the union’s Sub-Secretariat in Yaba, Lagos.
In its communique, the NEC expressed deep concern over the worsening security situation across the country, citing the abduction of 24 schoolgirls from a boarding school in Kebbi State on November 17. The attack, which also claimed the lives of two staff members, was particularly troubling to the union, which criticised what it called the “withdrawal of security personnel before the incident.”
The NLC warned that the kidnapping of schoolchildren has reached an alarming scale and urged the government to urgently strengthen protection for educational institutions, especially those in remote or vulnerable areas. It further demanded a thorough investigation into the lapses that enabled the Kebbi attack.
On the economy, the labour body referenced the World Bank’s October 2025 Nigeria Development Update, which revealed that about 139 million Nigerians—roughly 61 to 62 percent of the population—now live in poverty. The NLC said the figures underscore the deepening hardship faced by workers and other citizens.
The union also raised a red flag over what it described as a crisis in the nation’s tertiary education system, lamenting decaying infrastructure, obsolete teaching and research facilities, and irregular payment of staff allowances. It called for fair and equitable remuneration for all categories of university workers.
Reviewing developments in the health sector, the NLC expressed concern over the ongoing strike by the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), which began on November 14, and noted reports of nurses withdrawing from the action. It warned that the congress and its affiliates may fully join the strike if talks with the government fail.
Politically, the NLC announced the revitalisation of the Labour–Civil Society Coalition (LASCO) to bolster collaborative engagement on national issues. It also faulted what it described as interference in the Labour Party by the Nenadi Usman-led caretaker committee. As a result, the congress resolved to withdraw its members from all caretaker committees while exploring alliances with political platforms that uphold working-class values.
According to the NEC, the December 17 protest has become imperative to draw attention to “government failures on security, economic hardship, industrial disputes, and political integrity.”