The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said its planned nationwide protest on December 17 aims to draw urgent attention to the worsening insecurity in the country and compel decisive action from the government and other stakeholders.
NLC President, Joe Ajaero, stated this on Saturday in Gombe, speaking with journalists after a meeting with Governor Inuwa Yahaya on labour-related issues.
Ajaero said the protest would pressure the government to take definitive steps to tackle insecurity, arguing that the threat now affects every Nigerian, regardless of status or occupation.
He described banditry and violent crime as alien to Nigerian culture and called for collective condemnation to reverse what he referred to as a “dangerous national narrative.”
“Insecurity is damaging the economy and weakening Nigeria’s ability to attract local and foreign investors,” Ajaero said.
The labour leader cited recent killings and kidnappings as part of the justification for the protest.
“Our planned protest is to call attention to the impact of insecurity on investors and workers, who are kidnapped daily and sometimes killed,” he stated.
Pointing to an incident in Kebbi State, Ajaero said, “The person killed was a teacher, while the kidnapped children included those of workers.”
“So we are asking the government to help fish out the perpetrators and put an end to this menace.”
According to Ajaero, the protest is also designed to reassure authorities that Nigerians are prepared to support bold actions against insecurity.
“Government should know their hands are being strengthened to do the needful because Nigerians are saying this is wrong and must stop,” he said.
He urged collective engagement in confronting the nation’s security challenges, emphasising that kidnapping for ransom erodes national values and social cohesion.
Ajaero highlighted the plight of workers affected by insecurity, noting that families often lack funds for ransom, forcing them to borrow or beg to survive.
He said, “It is important for workers to join the call to end insecurity, unless the government wants to give us security allowance to pay ransom.
“We don’t have guns or cutlasses to chase criminals; protest is our only voice to Nigerians and the international community.”
The labour chief also urged the government to expand social safety nets, stressing that the current national minimum wage alone is insufficient to alleviate hardship without additional supportive measures.
