Tinubu Holds Emergency Talks with NLC Leaders to Halt Planned Nationwide Protest

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu held emergency late-night discussions with leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Tuesday, in a last-minute effort to avert a planned nationwide protest over escalating insecurity.

The meeting, which included representatives from the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and the Minister of State for Labour, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, took place just hours before the NLC’s scheduled mass action on Wednesday, December 17, 2025. The protest was called to demand decisive government action against rampant banditry, kidnappings, and violent crime across the country.

Speaking to journalists after the talks, NLC President Joe Ajaero stated that the union would need to conduct an internal review before deciding on the protest’s fate. “We came for consultation with the President, and we are finished. We have to go back to our meeting and continue deliberations,” Ajaero said, emphasizing that no single leader could unilaterally cancel the planned action. He indicated that the NLC’s decision-making bodies would consider the dialogue and announce their final position, likely on Wednesday.

Minister Onyejeocha described the meeting as an opportunity for dialogue with concerned citizens, acknowledging the severity of the security crisis and its profound economic impact on Nigerians. The presence of governors’ forum representatives highlighted a coordinated, multi-tiered government approach to address the pressing issue.

This high-stakes, late-night engagement underscored the administration’s urgency to prevent widespread social and economic disruptions. While specific commitments from the government were not made public, discussions reportedly focused on formulating a coordinated strategy to restore safety and stability nationwide. The NLC had previously mobilized its affiliates across the country for peaceful rallies, raising the stakes for the government’s response.