The Nigeria Labour Congress on Wednesday declared full support for the Nigeria Union of Teachers’ nationwide strike and called on federal and state governments to take immediate, concrete action to rescue abducted pupils, students and teachers across the country. 

NLC President Joe Ajaero, who signed the statement, said the strike was a direct response to the deteriorating security situation in schools. He described the coordinated walkout as proof that teachers would no longer wait to be killed. “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,” Ajaero stated. The Congress also commended NUT National President Titus Audu Amba for what it termed a thoughtful move to put teacher safety on the national agenda.

The labour centre expressed shock at images of schoolchildren held captive by bandits in Oyo State following the May 15 attack in Oriire LGA where over 40 pupils and 7 teachers were abducted. “We are heartbroken by the ugly pictures of our children, held and tortured by depraved bandits in the forests of Oyo state,” the statement read. NLC warned that insecurity had spread from Zamfara to Oyo, Maiduguri to Port Harcourt, with similar mass abductions reported in Plateau and Kogi after the Oyo incident.

While acknowledging challenges facing security agencies, Ajaero urged government to go beyond “we are on top of the situation” assurances and condolence messages. He said the strike should serve as a “gentle but unignorable nudge” for authorities to treat insecurity as a priority. The Congress further warned that it would mobilize solidarity actions with teachers and other vulnerable workers if government failed to demonstrate serious commitment to protecting lives. 

The NLC concluded by demanding the immediate rescue and unconditional release of all victims still in captivity.

Sources: NLC statement by President Joe Ajaero, Punch Newspapers.