The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), has put its members on standby to begin a nationwide industrial action following what it described as a threat to education, especially Teachers, Workers and school children.
NUT President, Titus Amba-Audu at a media interaction in Abuja on Tuesday said the Federal Government’s lip-service to investment in education security and fully implementing the recommendations of the safe schools declaration, is what has exacerbated the attack on education
The Nigerian Education system has suffered several attacks in the last one month, with the abduction of 25 students from Government Girls Comprehensive Science College, Maga in Kebbi State and another 315 pupils and students from Saint Mary’s Primary and Secondary School in Papari, Niger State.
Like every other concerned Nigerian, the NUT President has expressed profound outrage over the incidents.
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While condemning the brutal killing of a Vice Principal and a security guard at the Maga school incident, the teachers Union lamented that recent attacks have forced some schools to close, mortgaging the future of children and exposing the failure of government to implement the Safe Schools Declaration and related policies aimed at protecting schools.
Past attacks on education and learners include; 276 female students abducted from Government Secondary School, Chibok in Borno State on April 14, 2014; the kidnap of 110 school girls from Government Science and Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State on 19 February, 2018, including Leah Sharibu who is still in captivity; the abduction of 39 students from Federal College of Forestry, Kaduna on 11 March, 2021; the attack on Government Secondary Schools in Jangebe, Zamfara State and adduction of about 200 students on 26 February, 2021 as well as the abduction of 128 students and 44 staff of Zamfara State College of Agriculture and Animal Science on 16 August, 2021.
Others are the attack on Bethel Baptist High School, Kaduna State, kidnap of 121 students on July 5, 2021; the attack on Kuriga town, Kaduna State and abduction of 287 students and pupils on 7 March, 2024 among others.
Nigerian teachers are challenging governments at all levels to stop the attacks on schools now!
(Editor: Ken Eseni)
