The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Wednesday went ahead with its planned nationwide protest over the growing insecurity in the country, despite last-minute talks with President Bola Tinubu.
Workers and labour supporters gathered at the NLC Secretariat in Abuja and in other major cities as part of what the union called a “National Day of Protest and Mourning.” The protest was aimed at drawing attention to the increasing cases of killings, kidnappings, and general insecurity across Nigeria.
The demonstration followed a late-night meeting on Tuesday between President Tinubu and NLC leaders, including the union’s president, Joe Ajaero.
After the meeting, the NLC said it would study the president’s submissions internally before taking a final decision, but the protest was not officially suspended.
Earlier, the NLC raised concerns that some individuals might attempt to hijack or disrupt the protest, leading to increased security presence across the country.
The Nigeria Police confirmed that officers were deployed nationwide to maintain peace and protect protesters.
Labour leaders stressed that the protest is not politically motivated.
According to them, it is a call on the government to urgently address insecurity and protect the lives of Nigerians, noting that remaining silent in the face of rising violence is no longer acceptable
