NLC to Protest Nationwide on Dec. 17 Over Worsening Insecurity — Ajaero
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has announced plans to stage a nationwide protest on December 17 to draw attention to the country’s worsening insecurity and press for urgent action from relevant stakeholders.
The NLC President, Mr. Joe Ajaero, disclosed this on Saturday in Gombe while speaking with journalists after a meeting with Governor Inuwa Yahaya on labour-related matters.Ajaero said the planned protest is aimed at demanding decisive government action to address insecurity, stressing that the situation has now affected all Nigerians, irrespective of status, profession, or location.He described banditry, kidnapping, and other violent crimes as alien to Nigeria’s culture, warning that the persistence of such acts is creating a dangerous narrative that must be collectively rejected and reversed.
According to him, insecurity is not only threatening lives but also crippling the economy and eroding Nigeria’s capacity to attract both local and foreign investments.“Our planned protest is to call attention to the impact of insecurity on investors and workers, who are kidnapped daily and sometimes killed,” Ajaero said.
He cited a recent incident in Kebbi State, where a teacher was reportedly killed and children of workers abducted, underscoring the severity of the crisis.“So we are asking the government to help fish out the perpetrators and put an end to this menace,” he added.
Ajaero explained that the protest is also intended to reassure authorities of public support in confronting insecurity.“Government should know their hands are being strengthened to do the needful because Nigerians are saying this is wrong and must stop,” he said.He called for collective action, warning that kidnapping for ransom undermines national values, social cohesion, and public confidence.
The NLC president noted that workers are among the worst hit, as many kidnapped persons lack the means to pay ransom and are often forced to borrow or beg to survive.“It is important for workers to join the call to end insecurity, unless government wants to give us security allowance to pay ransom.
We don’t have guns or cutlasses to chase criminals; protest is our only voice to Nigerians and the international community,” Ajaero stated.
He also urged the government to expand social safety nets, arguing that the minimum wage alone cannot alleviate economic hardship without complementary incentives and welfare support.(NAN).
