A coalition of civil society organisations, labour groups, youth movements, community associations and faith-based organisations has announced plans for a nationwide protest on June 12, citing worsening insecurity, rising economic hardship and declining living conditions across Nigeria.
The coalition, led by human rights lawyer and activist, Femi Falana, said the protest would serve as a platform for Nigerians to demand urgent government action on security challenges and economic difficulties affecting millions of citizens.
The announcement was contained in a statement jointly signed by Falana, who is the National Chairman of the Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB); National President of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, Yinka Folarin; and Hassan Soweto of the Organising Committee of the #EndBadGovernance Movement in Lagos State.
Other signatories include the Organising Secretary of the Nigeria Patriotic Front Movement, Yusha’u Yankuzo; Secretary of Initiative and Mediation, Zauren Tuntuba da Sasanci, Ali Attahiru; and popular rapper and activist Falz, whose real name is Folarin Falana.
According to the coalition, the June 12 demonstration is intended to draw attention to the growing insecurity in different parts of the country and to demand the immediate release of Nigerians currently being held captive by kidnappers and armed groups in states including Oyo, Borno, Ekiti and Kwara.
The groups argued that the situation across the country does not justify celebration on Democracy Day, noting that many Nigerians continue to live in fear because of frequent attacks by terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and other criminal elements.
June 12 is observed annually as Nigeria’s Democracy Day in honour of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, widely regarded as one of the freest and fairest elections in the country’s history. The day has become a symbol of democratic struggle and the quest for good governance.
However, the coalition said the current realities facing many citizens have overshadowed the significance of the occasion.
In the statement, the groups lamented what they described as the government’s inability to effectively tackle insecurity despite repeated assurances that criminal groups were being defeated.
They said innocent citizens continue to be killed, abducted and displaced across the country while many communities remain vulnerable to attacks.
The coalition noted that several rural communities have been repeatedly targeted by armed groups, forcing residents to flee their homes and disrupting economic activities.
According to the statement, many farmers are unable to access their farmlands because of security threats, a situation that has contributed to lower agricultural output and rising food prices in many parts of the country.
The groups also expressed concern over the safety of schools and highways, saying many families continue to suffer the trauma of losing loved ones or having relatives held in captivity.
They maintained that the protection of lives and property should remain the primary responsibility of government and called for more effective measures to address the security crisis.
Beyond insecurity, the coalition also criticised the economic policies of the administration of President Bola Tinubu, saying recent reforms have placed additional burdens on ordinary Nigerians.
The groups pointed to the removal of fuel subsidy, repeated increases in the price of petrol, the devaluation of the naira, rising electricity tariffs and what they described as the commercialisation of essential public services.
According to them, these policies have deepened poverty and reduced the purchasing power of many households.
Since the removal of fuel subsidy in May 2023, Nigeria has witnessed significant increases in transportation costs, food prices and the cost of doing business. While the Federal Government has argued that the reforms are necessary to stabilise the economy and attract investment, labour unions and civil society groups have repeatedly expressed concerns about their impact on citizens.
The coalition said that despite increased revenue allocations to the federal, state and local governments following the subsidy removal, many Nigerians have not experienced any noticeable improvement in their standard of living.
It argued that inflation has continued to erode workers’ earnings while the prices of essential goods and services have remained high.
The statement further noted that many small and medium-scale enterprises are struggling to survive due to high operating costs, unstable electricity supply and declining consumer spending.
According to the coalition, several businesses have either reduced their operations or shut down completely as a result of the difficult economic environment.
The groups warned that the worsening situation could have serious social consequences if urgent steps are not taken to address the concerns of citizens.
They therefore called on Nigerians from all walks of life to participate in the June 12 protest and demand practical solutions to the country’s challenges.
The organisers described the planned action as a peaceful movement aimed at defending the interests of ordinary Nigerians and drawing attention to the plight of victims of insecurity and economic hardship.
“This protest is about the lives of our children and teachers in captivity. It is about the collective survival of ordinary Nigerians,” the statement said.
The coalition also appealed to civil society organisations, labour groups, professional bodies and other progressive organisations to join forces in mobilising citizens across the country.
According to the organisers, a united response is necessary to compel authorities to take urgent action on insecurity and review policies that they believe are worsening poverty and hardship.
Among other prominent signatories to the statement are Executive Director of the Moses Oisakede Leadership Foundation, Mike Igaga; President of the Precision, Electrical and Related Equipment Senior Staff Association, Rufus Olusesan; and Segun Oladunni of the Joint Action Front.
Others include General Secretary of Socialist Labour, Abiodun Olamosu; leader of the Calabar Group of Socialists, Jonathan Ugbal; Country Director of Citizens Solution Network, Richard Inoyo; Salako Kayode of the Revolutionary Socialist Movement; Omole Ibukun; and National Coordinator of the Youth Rights Campaign, Adaramoye Michael.
As Nigerians prepare to mark Democracy Day, attention is now expected to focus on whether the planned nationwide protest will attract broad public participation and how the government will respond to the demands raised by the coalition.