Labour Calls for Arrest, Prosecution of Those Financing Insecurity as Protests Sweep States

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday staged nationwide protests over the worsening security situation in the country, urging the federal government to deploy “the full machinery of governance” to reclaim communities, protect workers, and restore public confidence. The union also called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of those funding insecurity.

In Abuja, the protest ended abruptly after heavy security deployment prevented demonstrators from advancing beyond the Ministry of Finance, located just meters from the Labour House. The procession, which began between 11:15 a.m. and 11:39 a.m., saw the absence of NLC President Comrade Joe Ajaero and other top leaders, who were engaged in a closed-door meeting lasting several hours.

Prior to the procession, Omoyele Sowore, leader of the Revolution Now Movement, visited the Labour House in solidarity with the NLC. Workers, union affiliates, civil society partners, and journalists arrived from early morning, but waited until after 11 a.m. for directives from union leadership.

Ajaero clarified that the protest was not canceled despite the previous night’s meeting with President Bola Tinubu, stressing that the demonstration aimed to draw attention to both physical and financial insecurity. He explained that letters previously sent to the President, the Minister of Labour, the Chief of Staff, and the Secretary to the Federal Government had been acknowledged, but issues remained unresolved.

During the protest, the NLC highlighted core concerns including security, strikes in tertiary institutions, and unpaid health workers. Ajaero noted that discussions with the President would continue, with a scheduled meeting with the NLC National Administrative Council (NAC) in January.

Deputy General Secretary Comrade Ismail Bello emphasized that the protest served the broader interest of all Nigerians, not just workers, and called attention to the toll insecurity has taken on communities and livelihoods. NLC’s Head of International Department, Comrade Uche Ekwe, urged authorities to apprehend those funding insecurity.

The NLC stated that insecurity has plagued Nigeria for nearly two decades, resulting in thousands of deaths, displacements, and destruction of schools and health facilities, particularly in the North-East. Labour attributed insecurity to socio-economic injustice, widening inequality, corruption, and underfunding of key sectors, citing losses of over ₦300 billion during the 30-day JOHESU strike alone.

In Lagos, the NLC and civil society allies demanded urgent federal action to safeguard citizens, noting that insecurity persists despite Nigeria’s peacekeeping efforts abroad. Human rights activist Femi Falana, SAN, called for better-equipped security forces and prosecution of terrorism financiers arrested in 2021. He further stressed that addressing fiscal and social security issues, including youth employment and poverty alleviation, is essential to reducing insecurity.

Protests also took place in Kebbi, Osun, Kano, Enugu, Delta, Abia, and Sokoto, among others. Demonstrators submitted letters to state Houses of Assembly demanding decisive action. In Kano, NLC Chairman Comrade Kabiru Inuwa called on the federal government to find lasting solutions to insecurity, while state representatives assured that security efforts were ongoing.

In Sokoto, protesters marched to the state NLC Secretariat, highlighting attacks on villages, farms, and highways that have left residents displaced and unable to sustain livelihoods. Labour warned that persistent inaction would worsen the humanitarian and economic crisis nationwide.

The nationwide demonstrations ended with resolutions demanding swift federal intervention to restore security across affected states and safeguard citizens’ lives and property.