The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has declared support for the ongoing strike by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), warning that it could mobilise solidarity actions if governments at all levels fail to address worsening insecurity and secure the release of abducted victims.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, NLC President, Joe Ajaero, said the labour movement stood with teachers following repeated cases of kidnappings involving educators, students and pupils.
The NLC described the nationwide action by teachers as a response to persistent attacks on education workers and schools across the country.
“The national and well-co-ordinated action represents the resolve of Teachers to take their destiny in their hands instead of waiting to be slaughtered to the last person,” Ajaero said.
He added that the strike was “a gentle but unignorable nudge on the governments to take more seriously the growing insecurity industry.”
The labour leader commended the leadership of the NUT, led by Titus Audu Amba, for what he described as a thoughtful nationwide response to the security situation.
Ajaero expressed concern over the safety of teachers, students and other workers, including local government employees and health personnel, who have become targets of criminal attacks.
“Our hearts are with the Teachers, pupils/students and other vulnerable workers, especially local government workers, Doctors, Nurses, Medical and Health workers who often fall victim of the nefarious acts of bandits or other miscreants,” he said.
The NLC president also condemned the abduction of schoolchildren in Oyo State, describing the images of the victims as distressing.
“We are heart-broken by the ugly pictures of our children, held and tortured by depraved bandits in the forests of Oyo state,” he said.
Ajaero warned that the country could not afford to ignore the growing security challenge.
“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,” he stated.
The NLC said it would not rule out further action if authorities failed to respond effectively.
“We will not hesitate to do a solidarity action with the teachers or any other group of workers if government does not take more seriously the issues of our collective security,” Ajaero said.
He noted that organised labour had consistently raised concerns about insecurity through security summits and public protests, including a demonstration held in 2024 despite opposition.
Referring to the recent abductions in Oriire, Oyo State, Ajaero said the labour movement had repeatedly warned about the dangers posed by increasing banditry and kidnappings.
He said subsequent mass abductions in Plateau, Kogi and other parts of the country showed that security challenges remained unresolved.
“Since then other major/group abductions have taken place in Plateau, Kogi and other places underscoring the fact that for now we are not winning this war. It is heart-breaking,” he said.
The NLC called on governments at all levels to move beyond assurances and take concrete steps to improve security.
“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,” Ajaero said.
He ended the statement with a direct appeal to authorities, saying: “Free the abductees now, wherever they are held!”
Faridah Abdulkadiri
Follow us on:
