The Federal Workers Forum (FWF) has declared its full support for the nationwide protest planned by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), labeling the action a crucial "national assignment" for the country's survival. The protest is set to take place on December 17, 2025.
Workers Mobilize for National Redemption
In a powerful statement released by the forum's leadership, federal workers across Nigeria have expressed their readiness to join the mass action. The statement was jointly signed by Andrew Emelieze, the National Coordinator, Comrade Ayo Ogundele, the Secretary-General, and Aliyu Ibrahim, the Mobilisation Officer.
The FWF passionately called on all Nigerians to stand in solidarity, arguing that the protest transcends labour issues. "This protest is not for workers alone; it is a duty for our collective survival," the forum declared. They painted a grim picture of the national situation, citing worsening insecurity, poor governance, collapsed public services, and harsh economic conditions as the driving forces behind the urgent call to action.
Catalysts for the Mass Action
The forum did not mince words in its criticism of the government's performance. "Nigeria is now like a state of nature; uncertainty and fear have become the hallmark of our daily lives. Governance has reached the lowest ebb, and we cannot continue to witness this pervasive hopelessness," the statement read.
Specific grievances highlighted include:
- The government's poor handling of public sector strikes and wage disputes.
- Lack of support for health workers and chronic underfunding of education.
- Unpaid salary arrears owed to federal employees.
The FWF issued a direct demand to the federal government: settle the outstanding three-month wage arrears owed to federal workers since May 2023 and clear all backlog before December 31, 2025.
A Call for Unity and Continued Dissent
Emelieze also appealed to the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to join forces with the NLC for the protest, stressing the need for a united front within the labour movement. "It is necessary for the NLC and TUC to work together in solidarity to lead our people toward redemption," the statement emphasized.
To sustain momentum beyond the December 17 protest, the FWF proposed a symbolic weekly action: for workers to wear black attire every Monday as a visible sign of dissatisfaction with the nation's deteriorating state.
The forum extended condolences to Nigerians suffering from insecurity and economic hardship, ending its message with a note of defiance and hope, expressing confidence that the people "shall overcome."
Related Labour Crisis: NLC Official Arrested
In a separate but related development, the Nigeria Labour Congress has raised an alarm over the arrest of Alex Agwanwor, the Chairperson of its Rivers State Council. According to a statement by NLC Acting General Secretary Benson Upah, Agwanwor was taken by police officers from the Alagbon Station in Lagos around 9:00 pm on Thursday.
The arrest occurred at the premises of the NLC sub-secretariat in Yaba, shortly after a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting. The NLC indicated that eyewitness accounts suggest the detention may be connected to internal disagreements within Agwanwor's union, the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).
