Members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) converged at the union’s secretariat in Abuja on Wednesday as part of a nationwide protest against the worsening insecurity across the country.
The gathering attracted top labour leaders, including NLC President Joe Ajaero, alongside civil society groups. Prominent among the participants were human rights activist Omoyele Sowore and members of the Revolution Now Movement.
Security presence was noticeable at the venue, with personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the Department of State Services (DSS) deployed to maintain order.
Workers assembled in clusters within and around the NLC secretariat, awaiting further instructions from their leadership. Shortly after arriving, Ajaero and leaders of affiliated unions held a closed-door meeting, while other members remained on standby for directives.
Earlier, Ajaero reaffirmed that the protest would proceed as planned, stressing that it aimed to draw attention to the devastating impact of insecurity on the nation.
“The protest is to help this country by calling attention to the effects of insecurity,” he said, noting that the situation is discouraging both local and foreign investment.
He added that the demonstration seeks to compel the government to address rising insecurity, banditry and the severe economic hardships facing Nigerians.
Highlighting the human cost, the NLC president lamented the growing cases of abductions and killings.
“Workers are being kidnapped daily. People are being killed. In Kebbi, a teacher was recently murdered. The children being abducted are children of workers,” he said, urging the government to urgently track down and bring the perpetrators to justice.
