The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has announced a nationwide protest scheduled for December 17, 2025, to demand urgent government action against the worsening insecurity plaguing the country, particularly the abduction of schoolchildren.
The decision was reached on Sunday during the NLC’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Lagos, triggered by the recent kidnapping of 24 schoolgirls from the Federal Government Girls College, Birnin Yauri, Kebbi State.
The union condemned the earlier withdrawal of police and military personnel from schools across the north, describing it as a reckless move that left students vulnerable.
In a strongly worded statement, the NLC accused the federal and state governments of “criminal negligence” and warned that if the abducted girls are not rescued and concrete measures taken to secure schools nationwide, the protest may be accompanied by a declaration of national mourning.
“Enough is enough. Our children are no longer safe in school, on the roads, or even in their homes,” the NLC said.
“This government must act now or face the full wrath of Nigerian workers and citizens.”
The planned action marks a shift for the NLC, which has traditionally focused on wage and economic issues, but now cites the collapse of security—over 1,000 kidnappings recorded in 2025 alone—as a core labour and human rights concern.
Public reactions on social media have been mixed, with many Nigerians expressing frustration over repeated protests that yield little change, while others welcomed the move as a necessary stand against a government they accuse of indifference.
The protest is expected to draw participation from civil society groups, students’ unions, and concerned parents, and citizens across the country.
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