Under the Nigeria Labour Congress, Nigerian workers today warned that any attempt to stop tomorrow’s National Day of Protest and Mourning could lead to a nationwide strike that lasts until the end of time.
Benson Upah, the Acting General Secretary, stated in a statement that the union had received information that dishonest agencies and desperate political hirelings could try to get into the protests or cause trouble.
He also said that hurting even one worker or citizen will cause all parts of the economy to shut down right away and for an unknown amount of time, according to The PUNCH.
The statement said, “Our action tomorrow is not just a march; it is a collective act of grief, a roar of despair from the oppressed, and a democratic demand for the right to life and security.”
The union pointed out that many members, teachers, farmers, miners, and other skilled workers had died as a result of rising violence and the government’s failure to intervene.
The union told everyone, including workers, students, traders, and citizens, to be calm, disciplined, and together.
It said, “Solidarity is our shield.”
The NLC also told the police, who knew about the protest, to preserve people’s freedom to gather and voice their concerns.
The protest, which was initially announced at the NLC’s National Executive Council meeting on December 4, 2025, is meant to be a response to a lot of problems in the country.
The NEC was very worried about the country’s security getting worse, especially after the kidnapping of 24 schoolgirls in Kebbi State on November 17, 2025, when two staff members were killed.
The union spoke out against the removal of security workers before the incident and asked the government to step in right away.
The World Bank’s Nigeria Development Update, which came out in October 2025, says that over 139 million Nigerians, or 61–62 percent of the population, are living in poverty. This is a big jump from prior years.
The union has said before that protests are needed to make people aware of the government’s failings in dealing with crime, poverty, industrial issues, and political accountability.
The union was worried about the tertiary education industry since university buildings are still falling apart, teaching and research resources are still out of date, and worker allowances are often not paid.
The NEC said that the federal government used divide-and-rule methods that hurt union unity and slowed down talks.
It told the government to set up a fair and consistent pay system for all university employees, taking into account the specific demands of each professional group.
The Joint Health Sector Unions’ strike, which started on November 14, 2025, was also looked at.
The NLC was worried that nurses were leaving the strike and said that if discussions failed, it and its members would join the strike in full support.
The NEC also told the Labour–Civil Society Coalition, which was first set up by Adams Oshiomhole, to get back together to improve cooperation between labor groups and civil society in dealing with national problems.
The NLC criticized the Labour Party for being taken over by business interests through the Nenadi Usman-led Caretaker Committee when it came to politics.
The union decided to leave these committees and instead work with parties that share working-class values to establish coalitions. They will also keep working with the Labour Party when they can.
The NLC told anybody who were planning to cause trouble at tomorrow’s protest to stop right away. Any action on peaceful protestors will be seen as a blatant declaration of war on all Nigerian workers and their allies.
The union made it clear that if even one worker, comrade, or citizen is hurt during the protest, the NLC would call for a nationwide strike that will last indefinitely and stop all production, services, and sectors of the economy.
“Any attack on our demonstration will be an attack on Nigeria’s engine. The union said, “The result will be an escalation and a complete shutdown.”
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