By RismadarVoice Media, December 16, 2025
Nigeria’s largest trade union, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has warned that any attempt to disrupt its scheduled National Day of Protest, Mourning on Wednesday could trigger a nationwide indefinite strike.
In a statement issued on Tuesday December 16, Acting General Secretary of the NLC, Benson Upah, said the union had received intelligence indicating that unscrupulous agencies, political hirelings may attempt to infiltrate, violently disrupt the demonstrations.
Upah warned that harm to even a single worker or citizen would result in an immediate, indefinite shutdown of activities across all sectors of the economy.
“Our action tomorrow is not just a mere procession; it is a collective act of grief, a roar of despair from the oppressed, and a democratic demand for the fundamental right to life and security” the statement said.
The Congress lamented the deaths of countless workers, teachers, farmers, miners, and other artisans, attributing the losses to escalating insecurity and government inaction.
The NLC urged workers, students, traders, and citizens to remain peaceful, disciplined, and united during the protest, stressing that “solidarity is our shield.”
It also called on the Nigeria Police Force, which has been formally notified of the protest, to safeguard citizens’ constitutional right to peaceful assembly and expression.
The protest was first announced following the NLC’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on December 4, 2025, as a response to worsening national challenges, particularly insecurity.
The NEC cited, among other incidents, the abduction of 24 schoolgirls in Kebbi State on November 17, 2025, during which two school staff members were killed.
The union condemned the alleged withdrawal of security personnel prior to the attack, demanded urgent government action.
The NLC also drew attention to Nigeria’s deepening economic crisis. According to the World Banks Nigeria Development Update released in October 2025, about 139 million Nigerians, approximately 61 to 62 per cent of the population, are currently living in poverty.
The Congress reiterated that sustained protests remain necessary to compel the government’ action on insecurity, economic hardship, industrial disputes, political accountability
