Organised labour says rising insecurity failures by state governments are draining incomes, restricting movement and worsening fear across Nigeria

The Chairperson of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Lagos Chapter, Comrade Funmi Sessi, called on state governments and local government authorities to take greater responsibility for tackling Nigeria’s worsening security crisis, warning that persistent inaction is draining household incomes and restricting citizens’ freedom of movement.

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Comrade Funmi Sessi spoke following nationwide protests held last week by labour unions and civil society groups in Lagos, Abuja and other cities to draw attention to rising kidnappings, banditry and violent crime.

Comrade Funmi Sessi said insecurity had moved beyond isolated incidents and now shaped daily life and economic activity across the country.

Comrade Funmi Sessi said fear of kidnapping and violent attacks had made many travel routes unsafe, limiting people’s ability to work, visit family or conduct business.

Comrade Funmi Sessi said while security is often treated as a federal issue, state and local governments must play a more active role because of proximity to communities and local knowledge.

Comrade Funmi Sessi said Nigerians deserved to see concrete security outcomes rather than repeated statements.

Official data illustrated the scale of the problem.

The National Bureau of Statistics said in its Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey 2024 that there were about 2.24 million kidnapping incidents nationwide between May 2023 and April 2024.

The National Bureau of Statistics said households paid an estimated ₦2.23 trillion in ransom during the period, with about 65 per cent of affected households making payments averaging ₦2.67 million.

Research firm SB Morgen said kidnappers demanded more than ₦48 billion from victims and families between June 2024 and June 2025, though only about ₦2.57 billion was paid.

SB Morgen said the North-West was the most affected region, while the South-South and South-East experienced targeted abductions linked to financial and religious motives.

The Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Lagos Chapter, Comrade Olapisi Adebayo Ido, said insecurity persisted partly because subnational governments had failed to translate funding into effective action.

Comrade Olapisi Adebayo Ido said states received special security allocations and should be held accountable for how the funds were used.

Comrade Olapisi Adebayo Ido said labour expected state governments and local councils to invest more in intelligence, community engagement, surveillance and rapid-response systems.

Comrade Olapisi Adebayo Ido said grassroots leadership was essential to restoring safety.

In November, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, declared a nationwide security emergency, ordered the recruitment of 20,000 additional police officers and expanded military operations against kidnapping and terrorism.

Bola Tinubu also authorised deeper security cooperation with international partners, including the United States, focused on intelligence sharing and defence support.

Labour leaders said federal actions would remain insufficient without parallel efforts by state and local authorities.

Comrade Funmi Sessi said security could not be fully centralised and warned that continued inaction would deepen the social and economic costs borne by ordinary Nigerians.

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Organised labour said it would continue pressing for accountability across all levels of government, insisting that the protection of lives and property remained a core duty of governance.