The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a strong caution to political stakeholders and security agencies as Nigerians prepare for a nationwide protest scheduled for today over the country’s deepening insecurity.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the labour union revealed that it had received what it described as credible intelligence suggesting plans to deploy armed thugs to disrupt the demonstrations.
According to the NLC, such actions are allegedly aimed at triggering violence that could justify a forceful clampdown on peaceful protesters.
The Congress described the December 17 protest as far more than a routine march, portraying it as a nationwide expression of sorrow and frustration over the relentless killings, kidnappings, and attacks that have claimed the lives of countless Nigerians.
“This action is a shared moment of mourning and resistance,” the statement noted. “It represents the anguish of ordinary Nigerians and a democratic demand for the most basic right — the right to live and feel safe in one’s country.”
The NLC lamented that many of its members, including teachers, farmers, miners, and other workers, have fallen victim to banditry and criminal violence, stressing that the human toll has become impossible to quantify.
While reaffirming its commitment to a peaceful protest, the labour body warned that any attempt to harm participants or suppress the demonstrations would have serious consequences.
“If any worker, citizen, or comrade is attacked or injured, whether by hired thugs or excessive state force, the Congress will immediately declare a total, indefinite nationwide strike,” the statement warned.
The union explained that such a strike would paralyse economic activities across the country, shutting down production, services, and critical sectors nationwide. It added that any assault on the protest would amount to an attack on the very foundation of Nigeria’s workforce, with unavoidable nationwide repercussions.
The NLC also called on the Nigeria Police Force to uphold its constitutional duty to safeguard citizens’ rights to peaceful assembly and expression. It noted that law enforcement agencies had already been officially informed about the protest routes and arrangements.
“The police must rise to their responsibility of protecting citizens and ensuring that democratic rights are neither suppressed nor violated,” the Congress stated.
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Meanwhile, the Acting General Secretary of the NLC, Benson Upah, urged participants to maintain calm and discipline throughout the protest. He encouraged demonstrators to resist provocation and remain united.
“Stand firm, stay peaceful, and remain disciplined,” Upah said. “Our strength lies in our solidarity.”
