The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a severe ultimatum to security agencies and political actors, threatening to paralyze the country with an indefinite nationwide strike if any harm comes to participants in its scheduled National Day of Protest and Mourning.
A Stern Warning Against Violence
In a hard-hitting communique released on Monday, December 16, 2025, the labour centre declared it would order a complete shutdown of all economic and service sectors should its members or other peaceful demonstrators face violence. The protest is set for Tuesday, December 17, 2025, and the NLC claims to possess alarming intelligence about plans to disrupt it violently.
The statement, endorsed by the union's Acting General Secretary, Comrade Benson Upah, alleges that armed thugs and political hirelings are being mobilized to infiltrate and attack the gatherings. The NLC framed the protest as a legitimate, peaceful outcry against the escalating insecurity plaguing Nigeria, characterized by rampant killings, kidnappings, and community assaults.
An Ultimatum to the State
"Should a single worker, comrade, or citizen be harmed by these thugs or through escalated repression tomorrow, the Nigeria Labour Congress will not hesitate to declare an immediate, comprehensive, and indefinite nationwide strike," Upah stated unequivocally.
He elaborated that such an action would see "all wheels of production, all services, and every sector of the national economy shut down completely and indefinitely." The Congress accused the political class of revealing undemocratic instincts when moving to crush peaceful dissent against their failures.
Protest as an Act of Grief and Demand
The NLC emphasized that the upcoming action transcends a simple procession. It described the event as "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 labour body highlighted the devastating impact of insecurity on its broad membership, noting that teachers, farmers, miners, and artisans are increasingly becoming victims of violent attacks nationwide. It warned that any violent repression of the protest would constitute an act of terrorism against Nigerian citizens.
"We name this plot for what it is: further enabled terrorism against Nigerian citizens," the declaration read, adding that aggression towards peaceful protesters would be considered a direct declaration of war on the Nigerian working class and its allies.
Call for Peace and Solidarity
The Congress confirmed that security agencies, particularly the Nigeria Police Force, have been formally notified about the peaceful nature of the protest. It stressed that protecting protesters and upholding the constitutional rights to assembly and expression is the duty of these agencies.
Addressing workers, the unemployed, students, traders, and all Nigerians affected by the climate of fear, the NLC urged participants to remain calm, disciplined, and non-violent. It encouraged them to resist intimidation or provocation, rallying under the banner that "Solidarity is our shield."
The stage is now set for a tense December 17, with the nation awaiting to see if the protest proceeds peacefully or if the NLC's drastic threat of a total shutdown will be triggered.
