What is the only weapon available to Nigerian teachers in the wake of spiraling insecurity that now threatens the very fabric of the nation, and survival of their profession?
Well, that is what the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), has just unveiled.
It did this through its national president, Mr Audu Amba, on the sidelines of the ongoing 114th International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva.
Amba started by asserting that the future of education in Nigeria had now been more endangered by growing incidents of banditry, kidnapping and attacks on schools across the country.
Insecurity, he said, which initially appeared manageable, had gradually spread, posing serious threats to basic education and undermining efforts to develop the nation’s human capital.
“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.
“We also had reports from Niger State, where students were taken into captivity. These incidents are deeply disturbing and unacceptable,” he said.
Amba said education remained the backbone of national development and should be protected from criminal elements seeking to disrupt learning activities across communities.
“When education, especially basic education, comes under threat from insecurity, then something must have gone wrong somewhere within the system,” he said.
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.
“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.
“That is why government must be more proactive in addressing these security challenges before they cause irreversible damage to the education sector,” he said.
The Only Weapon Available To Nigerian Teachers
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.
“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.
“Our responsibility is to advocate for the safety of schools, our teachers and the learners entrusted to our care across the country,” he said.
“You do not know where the next attack may occur. In some places, learning takes place with one eye open and one eye closed.
“Teachers and learners are constantly looking over their shoulders, particularly in remote communities where insecurity remains a major challenge.
“Security is everybody’s business. Community leaders, parents and ordinary citizens must remain alert and report suspicious movements whenever they observe them,” he said.
“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.
