NLC Takes Protest to Streets Over Insecurity, Rising Hardship for Nigerian Workers

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Tuesday led peaceful protests across several states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, to demand urgent government action on worsening insecurity and the growing financial strain on Nigerian workers.

In Abuja, the demonstration lasted about 20 minutes, with protesters marching from the Labour House to the Ministry of Finance junction. Speaking to journalists, NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, said the protest was driven by frustration after months of unproductive correspondence with key government officials.

According to Ajaero, the Congress had written repeatedly to the Minister of Labour and Employment, the Chief of Staff to the President and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. While the letters were acknowledged, he said they were never escalated to President Bola Tinubu for decisive action.

He explained that the protest was not meant to disrupt ongoing dialogue with the Presidency, but to highlight the urgency of the challenges facing workers. These include rising insecurity, declining purchasing power, unresolved labour disputes and prolonged strikes in critical sectors.

Ajaero noted that the protest came amid severe economic pressure on workers, worsened by high inflation, soaring living costs and persistent insecurity across the country.

He also revealed that, on the eve of the protest, the Congress secured a meeting with President Tinubu through the intervention of some state governors. At the meeting, Labour raised key concerns such as the lingering crises in tertiary institutions and the long-running strike by health workers.

The NLC said it hopes the protest will prompt swift and concrete action to ease the burden on Nigerian workers and restore confidence in the government’s response to labour and security challenges.