The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Oyo State Wing, has maintained that public schools in the state will remain closed until the government introduces effective security measures to guarantee the safety of teachers and students.
The union’s decision follows an indefinite strike declared after the abduction of over 40 students and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area on May 15.
Speaking in Ibadan on Tuesday, the NUT secretary, Olukayode Salami, said schools would only reopen when sufficient security arrangements are put in place to restore confidence among teachers, parents, and pupils.
He explained that the withdrawal of teachers from classrooms was prompted by worsening insecurity, including the killing of two teachers and the continued captivity of some of the abducted victims.
Salami said the situation had triggered fear and anxiety across communities, noting that some parents had already removed their children from schools due to safety concerns.
According to him, “As much as we have casualties among learners in terms of abduction, we have higher casualties among teachers because two of them were killed.
“The continuous detention of victims in captivity is another factor of concern to all of us.
“The emotion, tension and panic in society also contributed to the decision because classrooms were no longer safe and teachers were not psychologically stable to carry out their duties.”
He added that the union did not immediately embark on strike after the incident but took action when it became clear that the security situation had not improved.
Salami said the NUT has set clear conditions for reopening schools, including the safe rescue of abducted persons and the implementation of preventive measures to avoid future attacks.
“The condition we attached was for government to intensify efforts and ensure the safe rescue of these people.
“Secondly, government must put measures in place that can guard against such occurrences.
“No condition is permanent and no decision is permanent.
Once meaningful measures are put in place, there will be a need to review the position and see how we can collectively move forward,” he said.
He stressed that schools must remain safe environments for learning and should not be targeted by criminals.
Salami further urged that grievances against government should not be expressed through attacks on innocent school communities.
He also revealed that the union had engaged government officials in discussions that produced a communiqué and action plan already submitted for implementation.
According to him, the NUT is now awaiting the execution of those measures, especially urgent security interventions, before considering a return to classrooms.
