The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has announced a nationwide protest for Thursday, December 17, 2025.
The NLC cited worsening insecurity, failing tertiary education, ongoing strikes in the health sector, and what it called “concerns over political interference in the Labour Party” as reasons for the protest.
The announcement followed the meeting of the NLC’s National Executive Council held at the union’s Sub-Secretariat in Yaba, Lagos, on Thursday, 4 December 2025.
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The union criticised the “withdrawal of security personnel before the attack” and warned that kidnappings targeting schoolchildren have reached “a dangerous level” requiring immediate government intervention.
The World Bank's Nigeria Development Update, which was released in October 2025, stated that "about 139 million people, representing roughly 61 to 62 per cent of the population, now live in poverty." The statement also pointed to the growing economic pressure.
The NLC pleaded with the government to "protect schools," particularly those located in remote or high-risk regions, and to "investigate and hold accountable those responsible for security lapses."
Concerning education, the union voiced concern regarding "the crisis in tertiary education," stating that "outdated" resources for teaching and research, "decaying" university infrastructure, and "often unpaid" staff allowances were among the issues. It acknowledged the diverse needs of various professional groups while calling for "fair pay for all university workers."
The council also looked at the Joint Health Sector Unions' strike, which started on November 14, 2025, and expressed concern about some nurses leaving the action. It warned that the NLC and its affiliates could “join the action fully” if negotiations with the government collapse.
The NLC announced the rebirth of the Labour–Civil Society Coalition in its political assessment to enhance collaboration on national issues. It also complained about the Labour Party's "interference by the Nenadi Usman-led Caretaker Committee" and decided to withdraw its members from the committees and seek alliances with political parties that "support working-class principles."
The planned mass protest has become necessary, according to the union, to draw attention to "government failures on security, economic hardship, industrial disputes, and political integrity," according to the union.