THE AFRICAN Regional Organisation of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC-Africa) has expressed solidarity with Nigeria’s workers and people amid what it describes as a “grave moment of worrisome national security concerns.”
While commending the Nigerian government’s declaration of a nationwide security emergency, the organisation stated that sustainable peace requires confronting deep-rooted structural failures, not just military deployments.
The statement, signed by Akhator Joel Odigie, ITUC-Africa General Secretary, acknowledged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s move to commit additional security resources.
“We commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his government for declaring a nationwide emergency on insecurity and for committing additional security personnel and resources to protect schools, communities, and workplaces,” ITUC-Africa noted, adding that it “is an important signal that the Nigerian state recognises the scale of the crisis and is prepared to act.”
The organisation however swiftly cautione that “Nigeria’s security breakdown is not a sudden disruption. It is the result of deep, long-standing structural challenges that must be honestly addressed if this emergency is to bring sustainable peace.”
A Landscape of Escalating Violence
Painting a stark picture of the crisis, ITUC-Africa detailed the human cost. “The violence ravaging the North East, North West, and North Central regions is driven by extremist insurgency, terrorist activities, well-organised banditry, and increasingly deadly farmer–herder clashes,” the statement reads, stressing that “Over 2,200 people have already been killed in the first half of 2025 alone, with millions displaced.”
ITUC-Africa placed emphasis on the criminal economy fuelled by kidnappings, noting: “Kidnap-for-ransom has evolved into a thriving criminal economy — nearly 5,000 abductions were recorded within 12 months, with billions demanded in ransom. This predatory economy robs households of income and communities of stability, while fueling an unending cycle of criminality.”
Prescriptions for Sustainable Peace
Moving beyond analysis, ITUC-Africa presented a multi-point roadmap for action, exhaustively offering recommendations for emphasis.
On Security Policy; the organisation called for a credible “No Ransom” policy, stating that operationalising it “requires: Financial-crime intelligence targeting ransom networks; Asset seizures and sanctions of perpetrators and their sponsors; Victim protection and robust state-led rescue capacity; [and] Strong public communication, devoid of propaganda and bigotry, that rebuilds confidence.”
It asserts that “The above initiatives are essential to break the economic backbone of kidnapping.”
On Justice and Rule of Law; ITUC-Africa stressed that “Security forces must prioritise public protection, particularly in rural communities, workplaces, and schools — not elite convoys.”
It applauds the government’s initiative to redeploy police from elite protection to communities but warns that “This directive must be implemented without ambiguity.”
The statement also demanded an end to impunity, noting that “Violent actions, whether carried out by non-state actors or by elements within state institutions, must be investigated, prosecuted, and sanctioned in accordance with the extant laws, without sacred cows.”
It adds: “It is also vital that the Nigerian government demonstrate the needed courage to name and prosecute sponsors of violence and insecurity in any form. Again, there must be no [sacred] cow.”
On Livelihoods and Inclusion; while highlighting Nigeria’s membership of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), ITUC-Africa urged the government to leverage “ILO Recommendation 205, which affirms that employment and decent work are the foundations of peace.”
To cut recruitment pipelines into violence, the statement urged Nigeria to accelerate “Youth skills development and job creation; Rural economic transformation and smallholder support; Climate-adaptive livelihoods and infrastructure renewal; [and] Expanded social protection in conflict-affected areas and communities.”
On Social Healing; the pan-Africa labour body noted that recognising that insecurity has fractured society, “Peace, therefore, becomes durable only when dignity is restored and divisions healed.”
It argued that peacebuilding must therefore include: “Facilitated genuine dialogue and reconciliation between rival groups; Trauma support for children, workers, internally displaced persons, and survivors; [and] Reintegration initiatives with strong community oversight.”
A Call for National Leadership and Global Solidarity
The statement framed the crisis as both a national responsibility and an international concern. “Nigeria must lead decisively, but it should not stand alone. Seeking help to protect citizens is not cowardice. It is a mark of responsible governance,” it argues, calling for global partners to ensure “Inclusive development financing without the encumbrances of debt burdens and dependency-trapping conditionalities.”
ITUC-Africa also pledges unwavering support to Nigeria’s labour movement, “a bulwark of national unity,” whose members – teachers, health workers, transport operators – are among the most targeted by violence.
The union vows to stand with Nigerian trade unions in “Defending rights and safety at work and in communities” and “Mobilising continental and global solidarity.”
ITUC-Africa ended its statement with a resolute appeal: “Finally, we reiterate our call to the Nigerian government to act with urgency as demonstrated by the declared ‘state of emergency on national security’, and to do so in a genuine, inclusive, and collaborative manner.
“ITUC-Africa stands ready to provide support to people-centred initiatives that the Nigerian government will deploy. Peace shall return to Nigeria.”
