The Nigeria Labour Congress has announced plans to hold a nationwide protest on December 17 over the rising wave of insecurity across the country.
This was contained in a communiqué issued on Monday at the end of the National Executive Council meeting of the Congress held in Lagos. The communiqué was jointly signed by the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, and the Acting General Secretary, Benson Upah.
According to the communiqué, the NEC deliberated on pressing national and industrial issues, including the recent abduction of 24 schoolgirls in Kebbi State. The council strongly condemned the kidnapping and killing of a school staff member during the incident and criticised the withdrawal of security personnel from the affected school before the attack.
The NEC described the increasing attacks on schools as alarming and called on the Federal Government to urgently secure all schools, particularly those located in remote and vulnerable communities. It resolved to mobilise all NLC affiliates and state councils across the country for the planned protest and demanded immediate investigation and prosecution of those responsible for the security lapses.
Other issues discussed at the meeting included the crisis in the tertiary education sector, the ongoing strike by the Joint Health Sector Unions, and the revival of the Labour and Civil Society Coalition. The NEC also expressed concern over the state of the Labour Party and urged members to realign the party with working class principles and integrity.
The Congress warned that failure of the Federal Government to tackle insecurity and other pressing issues could lead to escalated industrial actions across key sectors, including health and education. The NLC stressed that workers safety and welfare remain a top priority and urged Nigerians to join workers in demanding a safer nation.
