NLC, TUC Threaten Nationwide Shutdown Over Escalating Insecurity

Organised labour has threatened a nationwide industrial action over Nigeria’s worsening security crisis, warning that workers may be forced to shut down economic activities if the government fails to curb the growing wave of terrorism, banditry and kidnappings across the country.

The warning was issued by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) during engagements at the 114th International Labour Conference in Geneva, Switzerland.

The labour centres said the persistent insecurity facing many parts of the country has become a direct threat to the safety, livelihoods and productivity of Nigerian workers, stressing that no nation can achieve sustainable economic growth while citizens live in fear.

According to the unions, thousands of workers now face daily risks while travelling to work, conducting business or carrying out official duties, as incidents of kidnapping, armed attacks and violent crimes continue to rise in several states.

The labour leaders noted that insecurity is no longer limited to isolated communities but has spread to schools, hospitals, farms, highways and workplaces, disrupting economic activities and deepening hardship for ordinary Nigerians.

They expressed concern over recent abductions involving teachers, schoolchildren and other citizens, arguing that the situation has exposed workers and their families to unprecedented dangers.

The threat of a broader labour action comes amid growing support from organised labour for the ongoing strike by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in some affected areas over the abduction of teachers and pupils.

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President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, recently backed the teachers’ action, describing it as a necessary response to the country’s worsening security situation.

Ajaero said workers should not be expected to perform their duties under constant threats to their lives, warning that organised labour may be compelled to mobilise nationwide solidarity actions if governments fail to take stronger steps to protect citizens.

He maintained that the safety of workers must remain a priority, particularly in sectors such as education, healthcare and local government services, where employees often operate in vulnerable environments.

The labour unions further argued that the security crisis in Nigeria has become both a humanitarian and economic challenge, discouraging investment, reducing productivity and worsening the cost of doing business.

While calling on federal and state governments to take decisive action against criminal groups, the unions urged authorities to move beyond public assurances and implement practical measures capable of tackling terrorism, banditry and kidnapping.

They also called for intensified efforts to secure the release of victims currently being held by kidnappers and other armed groups across the country.

Meanwhile, the labour centres dismissed reports suggesting that negotiations were progressing on a proposed ₦100,000 minimum wage, describing claims by some state governors as misleading.

According to labour officials, no agreement has been reached on such a figure, insisting that discussions on workers’ welfare and remuneration remain ongoing.

The unions warned that continued failure to address workers’ concerns over security and welfare could trigger stronger actions from organised labour in the coming weeks.

The latest warning highlights growing frustration among labour leaders over the country’s security challenges, which have increasingly dominated national discourse amid recurring attacks on communities, schools and public institutions.

NLC, TUC Threaten Nationwide Shutdown Over Escalating Insecurity

MURIC Rejects Alleged Shari’ah Demand by Oyo Kidnappers, Labels It ‘Lie from Pit of Jahannam’

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The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has vehemently rejected reports that kidnappers of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State demanded the implementation of Shari’ah as part of conditions for releasing their victims, describing the alleged demand as “a lie from the pit of Jahannam.”

In a strongly worded press release issued on Monday, the Islamic human rights organisation accused “enemies of Islam” within the negotiation team of fabricating the demand to tarnish the image of the Muslim faith.

The kidnappers had reportedly demanded the implementation of Shari’ah in the South-West alongside other conditions for the release of the abducted victims. But MURIC, in a statement signed by its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, dismissed the claim as a smokescreen.

“We reject this report. It is a smokescreen. That so-called demand for Shari’ah was inserted by Muslim-haters among the negotiators and the so-called demand was calculated to tarnish the image of Islam,” the statement read in part.

Professor Akintola went further to allege the involvement of Governor Seyi Makinde and his agents in what he described as “this devilish attempt to robe Shari’ah in criminal apparels.” He recalled that the governor had once sworn that Shari’ah would never find a place in Oyo State, adding that it was “not impossible, therefore, that the demand was fabricated in Agodi Government House.”

“It is a satanic blackmail designed to silence Yoruba Muslims who have been demanding Shari’ah,” the group added.

While vehemently disowning the alleged kidnappers’ demand, MURIC nonetheless seized the opportunity to restate its long-standing position that the struggle for the establishment of Shari’ah Courts in the South-West is “a legitimate, constitutional, and peaceful demand of Muslims in the region.”

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The organisation argued that the Nigerian Constitution guarantees the right of Muslims to seek access to Shari’ah Courts, just as adherents of other faiths enjoy institutions that cater to their religious needs.

“The refusal to allow Yoruba Muslims to practice Shari’ah is a denial of religious freedom, a deprivation of access to the judicial system and the creation of a barrier to justice,” the statement said.

However, MURIC unequivocally condemned the kidnapping of innocent schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State, describing the act as “barbaric, criminal, and totally inconsistent with the teachings of Islam.”

The group insisted that those responsible for the heinous crime “cannot and will never be the mouthpiece of Yoruba Muslims,” adding that they are “bloodthirsty criminals who have no locus standi to demand Shari’ah on behalf of patriotic and law-abiding Yoruba Muslims.”

Professor Akintola further argued that bandits and kidnappers do not practice Islam, citing testimonies of former captives and discoveries by security operatives. He noted that a Nigerian who spent eleven days in captivity reported that the kidnappers did not observe the Muslim prayer (Salat) even once.

“Security agents who raided bandits’ and kidnappers’ camps have also confirmed that what they found in their camps belie the claim that they represent Muslims or the religion of Islam. Condoms were scattered all over the floor. They found abandoned bottles of alcohol and various types of hot drinks,” the statement added.

“How can such a group demand Shari’ah?” the group queried, insisting that the demand was a smokescreen concocted by those determined to permanently bury the agitation for Shari’ah.

MURIC concluded by warning Nigerians not to be deceived, describing the alleged demand as a “satanic plot” that has failed woefully.

“Stop selling dummies to Nigerians,” the group declared.

As of press time, the Oyo State Government had not officially responded to MURIC’s allegations of involvement in fabricating the Shari’ah demand. Efforts to reach the state’s Commissioner for Information were unsuccessful.

The abduction of schoolchildren and teachers from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State occurred on May 15, 2026. The victims include over 40 pupils and seven teachers from Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community High School, Ahoro-Esienle; and L.A. Primary School. During the attacks, gunmen reportedly killed one teacher and later beheaded another teacher while in captivity.

Governor Seyi Makinde has repeatedly assured residents that the government is working “round the clock” to secure the release of the victims, revealing that federal security personnel have been actively involved in the rescue mission for weeks.

MURIC Rejects Alleged Shari’ah Demand by Oyo Kidnappers, Labels It ‘Lie from Pit of Jahannam’