NLC members, others gather in Abuja for nationwide protest  

Members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) have begun assembling at the NLC Secretariat in Abuja ahead of a nationwide protest against rising insecurity across the country.

Among those present are the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, and civil society allies, including Omoyele Sowore and members of the Revolution Now Movement. Security personnel, including police, civil defence, and officials from the Department of State Services (DSS), have also been deployed to the venue.

Speaking earlier, Ajaero said the planned protest remains firm and is intended to draw attention to the country’s worsening insecurity. “The protest is to help this country – to call attention to the effect of insecurity,” he said.

He warned that insecurity is affecting Nigeria’s economy and discouraging investors. Ajaero also highlighted the human cost, noting that workers and their families are often victims of kidnappings. “Many workers are being kidnapped daily. People are killed. In Kebbi, a teacher was killed. Children of workers are kidnapped. The government must act to find the perpetrators,” he said.

Ajaero described banditry and kidnappings for ransom as alien to Nigerian values and called for a national response to end the trend. He also suggested the idea of an “insecurity allowance” to support workers who are kidnapped and often need to raise money for ransom.

“This protest is our way of telling Nigerians and the international community that insecurity must stop,” he said. “This is not the culture of Nigerians, and we must condemn it and strengthen the hands of those in authority to make sure it does not continue.”

The nationwide protest aims to pressure the government to tackle insecurity, banditry, and other issues affecting workers and the general population.