The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has warned that it will declare a national day of mourning and mobilise workers for mass protests if the government fails to act against the escalating wave of kidnappings and violent attacks across the country.

NLC President, Joe Ajaero, issued the warning at the opening of the NLC National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Lagos, describing Nigeria as “under siege.” He expressed anger over the latest school kidnapping and questioned the withdrawal of security personnel shortly before the incident.

Ajaero called for a thorough investigation to determine whether the security lapse resulted from negligence or internal sabotage, noting that the worsening insecurity now endangers teachers, students, workers, and families nationwide.

He revealed that the NLC would soon roll out detailed plans for the national mourning and protests, insisting that labour cannot remain silent while communities are attacked, children abducted, and citizens killed without decisive government action.

Ajaero also announced that labour representatives would be withdrawn from the Labour Party, accusing the party of abandoning its mandate to defend workers’ interests and turning into a vehicle for personal political ambitions.

Human-rights advocate Femi Falana, SAN, who addressed the meeting, echoed the concerns, warning that the surge in kidnappings, school attacks and banditry indicates that the country is drifting into dangerous territory.

He dismissed calls for foreign troops to assist Nigeria, saying such intervention would undermine national sovereignty, and condemned recent comments attributed to U.S. President Donald Trump as insulting to Nigeria.

Falana urged the Tinubu administration to take urgent action to protect citizens, restore public confidence, and halt further deterioration. He also called on civil society groups, labour unions and Nigerians to prepare for collective action if the situation worsens, stressing that the country must not be overwhelmed by insecurity.