…Education Crisis and Labour Party Interference
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has announced plans to stage a nationwide protest to demand urgent government action on rising insecurity, the deteriorating state of tertiary education, the ongoing health sector strikes, and what it described as persistent political interference in the Labour Party.
The decision was reached during the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at the NLC Sub-Secretariat in Yaba, Lagos, on Thursday, 4 December 2025. The NEC said the protest would signal workers’ growing frustration with what it called government inaction on critical national issues.
In a communiqué issued after the meeting, the council expressed deep concern over the worsening security situation across the country. It referenced the abduction of 24 girls from a boarding school in Kebbi State on 17 November 2025—a violent attack in which two staff members lost their lives.
According to the NLC, the incident exposed troubling lapses in security arrangements, especially with reports that security operatives were withdrawn shortly before the attack. The union said the growing trend of mass abductions, particularly involving schoolchildren, has reached a dangerous level and demands immediate intervention from relevant authorities.
The NEC also condemned what it termed the federal and state governments’ failure to address the prolonged crisis in the tertiary education sector. It noted that constant disruptions, underfunding, and unresolved labour disputes have eroded the quality of education and left thousands of students stranded.
In the health sector, the labour body lamented the ongoing strikes by various unions, warning that the continued shutdown of critical services was putting millions of Nigerians at risk. It urged the government to engage health workers meaningfully and prioritise long-standing agreements to restore stability in the sector.
On internal political issues, the NLC accused unnamed political actors of meddling in the affairs of the Labour Party, insisting that such interference undermines democracy and weakens workers’ voices within the political space. The congress reaffirmed its commitment to defending the party’s independence.
The NEC said the planned protest is intended to compel authorities to act swiftly on these national concerns. It added that specific dates and modalities for the demonstration would be announced in the coming days.
The NLC urged Nigerians to remain vigilant, calling on civil society groups, student bodies, and allied unions to join hands in demanding accountability and improved governance.
“The safety and welfare of citizens cannot be negotiated,” the statement said. “Nigeria must not continue on this path of insecurity, failing public services, and political manipulation.”
