June 03, (THEWILL) — The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has threatened to embark on a nationwide solidarity protest with teachers and other categories of workers if governments at all levels fail to urgently tackle worsening insecurity and the increasing cases of abduction involving teachers, pupils, and students across the country.
The labour body issued the warning while expressing support for the ongoing strike action by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), describing the move as a necessary response to the growing wave of attacks on schools and vulnerable workers nationwide.
NLC President, Joe Ajaero, in a statement on Wednesday, said the coordinated action by teachers represented their determination to protect themselves rather than continue to remain easy targets for criminal elements.
“The Nigeria Labour Congress wishes to express solidarity with the striking members of NUT over the serial cases of abduction of its members and students/pupils,” Ajaero said.
He stated that the nationwide action by teachers also serves as a strong message to governments on the need to treat the country’s worsening security situation with greater urgency.
“The national and well-coordinated action represents the resolve of teachers to take their destiny into their own hands instead of waiting to be slaughtered to the last person,” he said.
Ajaero commended the leadership of the NUT under Comrade Titus Audu Amba for what he described as a thoughtful and decisive response to the security challenges confronting teachers across the country.
He expressed concern over the increasing vulnerability of teachers, pupils, students, and other workers, particularly those operating in remote communities and local government areas.
“Our hearts are with the teachers, pupils/students and other vulnerable workers, especially local government workers, doctors, nurses, medical and health workers who often fall victim to the nefarious acts of bandits and other criminals,” he added.
Lamenting the rising wave of kidnappings and attacks, Ajaero said Nigeria was gradually turning into a “horror scene,” noting that criminal activities were spreading across different parts of the country.
“We are heartbroken by the ugly pictures of our children being held and tortured by depraved bandits in the forests of Oyo State. As a nation, we cannot continue to fold our hands while this horror continues to play out from Zamfara to Oyo, and from Maiduguri to Port Harcourt,” he stated.
Ajaero warned that organised labour would not hesitate to mobilise workers if governments continue to respond to the security crisis with mere assurances rather than practical actions.
“We will not hesitate to embark on a solidarity action with the teachers or any other group of workers if the government does not take issues of collective security more seriously,” he warned.
Ajaero also recalled previous interventions by the Congress on insecurity, noting that the NLC had organised security summits and street protests in recent years to draw attention to the issue.
He further noted that major abductions in Plateau, Kogi, and other states showed that the country’s security challenges remained far from over.
Calling for immediate action, the labour leader urged governments at all levels to move beyond repeated assurances and condolence messages and focus on measurable steps capable of restoring public confidence and ensuring the safety of citizens.
He also demanded the immediate rescue and release of all abducted victims.
“Free the abductees now, wherever they are being held,” he said.
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