Labour Claims Plot to Sabotage Protest, Threatens Indefinite Strike
The Nigeria Labour Congress, on Tuesday, warned that any attempt to interfere with Wednesday’s National Day of Protest and mourning could spark a nationwide indefinite strike. Acting General Secretary, Benson Upah, said in a statement that the union had received intelligence suggesting that unscrupulous agencies and desperate political hirelings might try to infiltrate or violently disrupt the demonstrations. He added that harming even a single worker or citizen would trigger an immediate and indefinite shutdown across all sectors of the economy. “Our action tomorrow is not just a mere procession; it is a collective act of grief, a roar of despair from the oppressed, and a democratic demand for the fundamental right to life and security,” the statement read. The union highlighted the deaths of countless members, teachers, farmers, miners, and other artisans amid escalating insecurity and government inaction. The union urged all workers, students, traders, and citizens to remain disciplined, peaceful, and united. “Solidarity is our shield,” it said. The NLC also called on the police, who have been informed of the protest, to protect citizens’ democratic right to assemble and express their grievances. The protest, first announced following the NLC’s National Executive Council meeting on December 4, 2025, is intended as a response to a wide range of national crises. The NEC had expressed serious concern over the country’s worsening security situation, including the abduction of 24 schoolgirls in Kebbi State on 17 November 2025, during which two staff members were killed. The union condemned the withdrawal of security personnel prior to the attack and called for urgent government intervention. According to the World Bank’s Nigeria Development Update, released in October 2025, approximately 139 million Nigerians, about 61–62 per cent of the population, are living in poverty, a sharp increase from previous years. The NEC criticised the Federal Government’s use of divide-and-rule tactics, which undermine union unity and stall negotiations. It urged the government to implement a fair and uniform remuneration framework for all university workers while recognising the unique needs of different professional groups. The ongoing strike by the Joint Health Sector Unions, which began on 14 November 2025, was also reviewed. The NLC expressed concern over the withdrawal of nurses from the industrial action and warned that, should negotiations fail, it and its affiliates would join the strike in full solidarity. The NEC also directed the revival of the Labour–Civil Society Coalition, originally formed under Adams Oshiomhole, to strengthen collaboration between labour organisations and civil society in addressing national issues. On political matters, the NLC criticised the Labour Party, stating that it had been hijacked by mercantile interests through the Nenadi Usman-led Caretaker Committee. The union resolved to withdraw from these committees and focus on building coalitions with parties whose ideologies align with working-class principles, while continuing to engage with the Labour Party where possible. The NLC warned those plotting to disrupt tomorrow’s protest to desist immediately. Any attack on peaceful protesters will be treated as a direct declaration of war on the entire Nigerian working class and its allies. The union emphasised that if even a single worker, comrade, or citizen is harmed during the protest, the NLC will declare an immediate, comprehensive, and indefinite nationwide strike, shutting down all production, services, and sectors of the national economy. “Any attack on our protest will be an attack on the very engine of Nigeria. The consequence will be an escalation and a total shutdown,” the union stated.