The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a forceful alarm over the dramatic collapse of public safety across the country, announcing plans for a nationwide mobilization of workers that could include mass protests and a national day of mourning. The union warned that it will no longer fold its arms while criminal gangs terrorise citizens, abduct schoolchildren, and murder workers.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Lagos on Thursday, NLC President Joe Ajaero declared that the nation is “under siege” by criminal elements.
Ajaero focused particular attention on the recent surge in school kidnappings, condemning the incidents and specifically questioning the integrity of the security apparatus following reports of a troop withdrawal before a recent abduction.
The Congress expressed suspicion that the development suggests a possible compromise within the security architecture and demanded a comprehensive, full-scale investigation to identify those responsible for what it called operational negligence.
“You can see the state of the nation, especially the growing insecurity. The NLC cannot stand idly by and allow criminals to take over our country—never again,” Ajaero declared to the NEC delegates.
He outlined the union’s intention to push for accountability, even if it requires a national shutdown.
“Consequently, at the end of this NEC meeting, the NLC will take a strong stance. We want to understand what is happening and why security personnel assigned to guard a school were withdrawn, creating an opening for kidnappers to abduct students,” he stated.
Ajaero issued a direct threat of mobilization: “We will insist—through nationwide protests if necessary—on knowing who gave that instruction. We want to know whether members of Nigeria’s security agencies, or their leadership, have been compromised. Never again shall we watch and allow kidnappers and bandits to overrun our country, demanding ransom and killing workers.”
The NLC President personalized the crisis, linking the victims directly to the working population the Congress represents.
“The worker who was killed at the school was a teacher, and the students kidnapped are children of workers. Only God knows how many workers have been abducted, with ruthless demands for millions in ransom. We can no longer bear this; it is getting out of hand,” he lamented.
He announced the union’s plan to formalize its protest action soon. “The NLC will make a formal pronouncement, declare a national day of mourning for those affected, and call on the Nigerian government to secure everyone in this country and to identify and remove the bad elements within the security apparatus.”
Ajaero stressed that details of the planned national mourning and protests would be announced soon, emphasizing the need for Nigerians to unite to reclaim the country from kidnap syndicates and violent gangs.
Beyond security, Ajaero extended his criticism to the nation’s infrastructure and political stability. He questioned the performance of the power sector, arguing that recent tariff increases have failed to deliver improved service. He urged operators to ensure 24-hour power supply, recalling the promises made during deregulation. “But three years after, where are we?” he queried.
Regarding the ongoing industrial actions in the education and health sectors, the NLC President urged the Federal Government to respect the sanctity of agreements, warning that the Congress would consider actions to ensure such commitments are honored. He also cautioned politicians against overheating the polity and urged them to obey the rules of the game.
In a surprise development concerning the political wing of the movement, Ajaero announced a major organizational realignment. “Those representing us in the LP will be withdrawn. They are not representing us well; they are there for their personal interests. I hereby withdraw all our representatives across the states,” he declared, effectively pulling workers’ representatives from the Labour Party (LP).
 has issued a forceful alarm over the dramatic collapse of public safety across the country){kind=link}