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The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has criticised the worsening security situation and deepening economic hardship affecting Nigerians, saying citizens are suffering under the weight of current economic policies.
In a Sallah message on Wednesday signed by its President, Joe Ajaero, the labour union said workers and vulnerable citizens were increasingly struggling due to what it called neoliberal economic reforms.
The union stated that millions of Nigerians were experiencing severe hardship as a result of policies it believes have deepened poverty, urging political leaders to reflect on the impact of their decisions on ordinary citizens.
It also called on Nigerians to use the Eid period not only for prayers and celebration but also for political awareness, grassroots mobilisation, and collective organisation in defence of the oppressed.
Ajaero said the principles of governance should prioritise human welfare over profit-driven policies, insisting that government has a responsibility to ensure access to basic needs such as food, shelter, healthcare, education, and employment.
He added that Eid-el-Kabir, which symbolises sacrifice and obedience, should serve as a moment for national reflection on the condition of the working class, whom he said are under severe economic pressure.
“As we mark Eid-el-Kabir, a festival of sacrifice and obedience, the NLC reminds all Nigerians that this celebration should be different,” the union said. “The working class and the poor majority are bleeding under the weight of neoliberal policies.”
The NLC also linked rising insecurity to governance failures, citing kidnappings, banditry, communal clashes and urban crime as factors worsening living conditions across the country.
It argued that the country’s security challenges reflect broader structural governance issues and called for urgent reforms to address them.
The union further accused political leaders of expecting sacrifices from citizens while failing to demonstrate accountability and restraint in governance.
It urged leaders to prioritise national welfare and redirect policy focus towards improving living standards for the majority of Nigerians rather than a privileged minority.
“The worsening insecurity that now threatens the existence of our nation, from banditry to kidnapping, from herdsmen bloodshed to urban violence, is a direct indictment of our governance model,” the statement said.
“This season demands that our leaders search for themselves and decide to work for a Nigeria that will work for the majority and not for the few who occupy high public offices,” the NLC said.
Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, the NLC signalled a more assertive political stance, saying workers and citizens would hold leaders accountable at the polls.
It said Nigerians should remember unmet promises, alleged repression of peaceful protests, and worsening economic conditions, adding that these issues would shape political choices in the next election cycle.
The union further stated that upcoming elections should serve as an opportunity for citizens to collectively reject policies it considers harmful, insisting that votes should reflect resistance to hunger, insecurity and exploitation.
“We are entering a phase where every vote must be a weapon against hunger, insecurity, and exploitation,” the union said.
