Nigeria labour union and civil groups denounce worsening insecurity and economy

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), led by President Joe Ajaero, issued an Eid‑el‑Kabir message warning that millions of Nigerians are suffering under soaring inflation, rising food and transport costs and escalating violence. The union blamed President Bola Tinubu’s reforms – including the removal of petrol subsidies and foreign‑exchange liberalisation – for deepening poverty and said insecurity from banditry, kidnappings, communal clashes and urban crime reflects a failure of governance. It urged political education and grassroots organising ahead of the 2027 general elections.

A coalition of more than 90 civil‑society organisations marked the 9th National Day of Mourning with a statement condemning the government’s inability to protect lives. Citing data from massatrocities.org, they said at least 19,980 people have been killed, 12,362 abducted, 1,486 security personnel killed and 865 students abducted since May 2023. The groups accused the state of violating constitutional rights, tolerating extrajudicial killings and failing to disrupt kidnapping networks, and warned that ongoing violence threatens the country’s democratic processes.