NLC Backs Teachers’ Strike Over Rising Abductions

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has backed the ongoing nationwide strike by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) over kidnappings targeting teachers and students across the country.

In a statement on Wednesday, NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, said the strike reflected teachers’ determination to protect themselves rather than continue to face persistent threats to their safety.

“The national and well-coordinated action represents the resolve of Teachers to take their destiny in their hands instead of waiting to be slaughtered to the last person.

“The action equally represents a gentle but unignorable nudge on the governments to take more seriously the growing insecurity industry,” he said.

Ajaero commended the leadership of the NUT, led by Comrade Titus Amba, for drawing attention to the worsening insecurity in schools and communities.

“We commend the leadership of the NUT, led by Comrade Titus Audu Amba for this thoughtful action across the country,” he added.

The labour leader further lamented the abduction of children in Oriire, Oyo State, describing images of the victims in captivity as heartbreaking.

According to him, Nigeria cannot continue to tolerate the rising spate of kidnappings and banditry across different parts of the country.

“We are heartbroken by the ugly pictures of our children, held and tortured by depraved bandits in the forests of Oyo state.

“As a nation, we cannot continue to fold our hands while this horror movie continues to play, from Zamfara to Oyo, from Maiduguri to Port Harcourt,” Ajaero lamented.

The NLC also threatened to embark on solidarity actions with teachers and other categories of workers if governments at all levels fail to address the country’s security challenges more effectively.

Ajaero noted that the Congress had consistently advocated improved security through protests, statements and security summits, adding that recent mass abductions in Oyo, Plateau and Kogi states showed that the country was yet to gain the upper hand against criminal groups.

He urged governments at all levels to move beyond assurances and condolence messages and take concrete steps to secure lives and property.

The NLC further called for the immediate rescue of all abducted persons and their safe return to their families.

“We recognise the tricky operational situation in Oyo. We nonetheless use this opportunity to once again call on the government at all levels to rise beyond the ritual of “we are on top of the situation” and condolence messages to concrete and measurable action.

“Free the abductees now, wherever they are held!” the union sounded.