Insecurity threatening Nigeria’s education future, says NUT president

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The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has expressed concern over rising insecurity across the country, warning that continued attacks on schools threaten the future of education.

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The National President of NUT, Mr Audu Amba, said this while responding to questions from journalists on the sidelines of the ongoing 114th International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva.

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Amba said teachers, learners and education stakeholders were increasingly worried about growing incidents of banditry, kidnapping and attacks on schools across several parts of Nigeria.

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According to him, insecurity initially appeared manageable but has gradually spread, posing serious threats to basic education and undermining efforts to develop the nation’s human capital.

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He cited recent attacks in Kebbi and Niger states, where schools were reportedly targeted by criminals, leading to abductions and the killing of a teacher.

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“The situation is becoming alarming. We recently witnessed attacks in Kebbi State where a school was invaded and a teacher was brutally killed before family members.

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“We also had reports from Niger State, where students were taken into captivity. These incidents are deeply disturbing and unacceptable,” he said.

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Amba said education remained the backbone of national development and should be protected from criminal elements seeking to disrupt learning activities across communities.

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“When education, especially basic education, comes under threat from insecurity, then something must have gone wrong somewhere within the system,” he said.

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The NUT president said the union had expected earlier incidents to serve as a wake-up call but noted that attacks were becoming more frequent.

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He said recent developments in Oyo State further demonstrated that insecurity around schools was spreading and required urgent and coordinated government intervention.

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“It is a matter of concern for all Nigerians because when education is threatened by banditry and kidnapping, the future of our country becomes uncertain.

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“That is why government must be more proactive in addressing these security challenges before they cause irreversible damage to the education sector,” he said.

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Amba said the union’s responsibility was to continue advocating for safer schools, teachers and learners, since it lacked the powers and resources of security agencies.

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“The only weapon available to us is advocacy. We do not carry guns and we are not security agencies, but we must continue speaking up.

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“Our responsibility is to advocate for the safety of schools, our teachers and the learners entrusted to our care across the country,” he said.

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According to him, fear and uncertainty have already affected teaching and learning, especially in communities considered vulnerable to attacks by criminal groups.

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“You do not know where the next attack may occur. In some places, learning takes place with one eye open and one eye closed.

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“Teachers and learners are constantly looking over their shoulders, particularly in remote communities where insecurity remains a major challenge,” he said.

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Amba urged Nigerians to become more security-conscious and support efforts aimed at protecting schools through timely information sharing and community vigilance.

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“Security is everybody’s business. Community leaders, parents and ordinary citizens must remain alert and report suspicious movements whenever they observe them,” he said.

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The union leader also said that government had a constitutional responsibility to protect lives and property, including educational institutions and personnel.

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“The responsibility of government is to protect lives and property. Schools are public assets, and the lives of teachers and learners are equally important,” he said.

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Amba also said that the union directed its Oyo State chapter to ask teachers to remain at home following the abduction of colleagues and learners.

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He said the decision was taken to protect teachers and prevent the situation from escalating while efforts were ongoing to secure the release of victims.

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“We directed teachers to remain at home until our colleagues and the learners are rescued because their safety remains our primary concern.

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“If people are in captivity, learning cannot continue normally. We felt it was necessary to take proactive steps under the circumstances,” he said.

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Amba reiterated the union’s commitment to engaging government and stakeholders to ensure safer learning environments and uninterrupted access to quality education nationwide. (NAN)

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