NLC Decries Worsening Insecurity and Economic Hardship in Eid Message, Says Working Class and Poor Majority Are Suffering

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has strongly condemned the worsening security situation and growing economic hardship faced by ordinary Nigerians nationwide.

In a Sallah message released on Wednesday ahead of the Eid-el-Kabir festivities, and signed by NLC President Joe Ajaero, the union decried the suffering of workers and the poor, blaming neoliberal policies for deepening poverty and hardship.

Ajaero stated that millions were enduring severe difficulties under government policies that have exacerbated inequality. He called on political leaders to consider the human cost of their economic decisions.

The NLC urged Nigerians to use the Eid period not just for religious observance, but as an opportunity for political education, grassroots mobilisation, and forging solidarity among the oppressed.

Ajaero insisted that governance should prioritise people’s welfare—ensuring food, shelter, healthcare, education, and decent jobs—over the pursuit of profit.

As we celebrate Eid-el-Kabir, a festival of sacrifice and obedience, the NLC urges all Nigerians to make this occasion a turning point. Today, the working class and poor are being crushed by the burden of neoliberal reforms, the statement read.

The labour leader’s remarks come amid mounting criticism from labour groups and civil society organisations over the economic fallout of President Bola Tinubu’s reforms, such as the removal of petrol subsidies and the liberalisation of foreign exchange. While these measures have won international approval, the NLC argued they have triggered skyrocketing inflation, surging food and transport costs, and increasing pressure on household incomes.

Highlighting the surge in kidnappings, banditry, communal clashes, and urban crime, the NLC pointed to worsening insecurity as a direct failure of governance, further eroding living conditions across the country.

“The escalating insecurity—ranging from banditry and kidnapping to herdsmen violence and urban crime—reflects a governance system that has failed its people,” the union declared.

The NLC also criticised political leaders for demanding sacrifices from citizens while showing little restraint in public spending and personal conduct.

“This season calls for leaders to reflect and commit to building a Nigeria that serves the many, not just the privileged few,” the message stated.

The statement signalled a more assertive political stance ahead of the 2027 elections, warning that workers and ordinary citizens would hold leaders accountable at the polls.

The NLC vowed not to forget broken promises, repression of peaceful protest, and the deliberate impoverishment of workers through harsh policies.

We are approaching a defining moment where every vote must be used as a tool against hunger, insecurity, and exploitation, the union concluded.