The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has thrown its weight behind the ongoing strike by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), describing the action as a necessary response to the worsening wave of abductions targeting teachers, students and other vulnerable workers across the country.

The NLC further warned that it would not hesitate to organise solidarity actions in support of teachers and other workers if governments failed to take decisive steps to guarantee the safety of citizens.

In a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by its President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, the NLC expressed solidarity with striking teachers, saying the nationwide action reflected their determination to protect themselves amid growing insecurity.

“The national and well-co-ordinated action represents the resolve of teachers to take their destiny in their hands instead of waiting to be slaughtered to the last person,” the union said. 

The labour centre noted that the strike should serve as a strong reminder to governments at all levels to address the country’s deteriorating security situation with greater urgency.

The statement said: “The action equally represents a gentle but unignorable nudge on the governments to take more seriously the growing insecurity industry.”

The Congress commended the leadership of the NUT under Comrade Titus Audu Amba for what it described as a thoughtful and courageous decision taken in the interest of teachers and learners nationwide.

The NLC said its thoughts remained with teachers, pupils, students and other categories of workers who frequently fall victim to criminal attacks, particularly local government employees, doctors, nurses and other health workers.

The Congress expressed deep concern over the plight of abducted pupils and teachers in Oyo State, describing the situation as distressing.

“We are heart-broken by the ugly pictures of our children, held and tortured by depraved bandits in the forests of Oyo State,” the statement said.

The Congress warned that Nigeria could no longer afford to treat the security crisis with indifference, noting that incidents of kidnapping and banditry had spread across different regions of the country.

“As a nation, we cannot continue to fold our hands while this horror movie continues to play, from Zamfara to Oyo, from Maiduguri to Port Harcourt.

“We will not hesitate to do a solidarity action with the teachers or any other group of workers if the government does not take more seriously the issues of our collective security,” the statement said.

The NLC recalled that it had consistently advocated stronger security measures through national security summits and protests, including a major demonstration held in 2024 despite opposition from some government quarters.

The Congress also referenced the recent abduction in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, noting that it had repeatedly warned authorities about the dangers of allowing insecurity to worsen.

“In the aftermath of the Oriire abductions in Oyo State, we had issued a statement not only condemning the despicable action, we drew the attention of government for the umpteenth time to the growing danger of the citizenry switching loyalty to bandits and the need to deal with the situation before it spins out of control,” the NLC said.

The NLC lamented that subsequent mass abductions in states such as Plateau and Kogi showed that the country was still struggling to gain the upper hand against criminal elements.

“Since then, other major group abductions have taken place in Plateau, Kogi and other places underscoring the fact that for now we are not winning this war. It is heart-breaking,” the statement added.

While acknowledging the operational challenges facing security agencies in Oyo State and other parts of the country, the NLC urged governments to move beyond routine assurances and adopt practical, measurable measures to curb insecurity.

“We once again call on the government at all levels to rise beyond the ritual of ‘we are on top of the situation’ and condolence messages to concrete and measurable action,” it said.

The NLC demanded for the immediate rescue of all kidnapped victims, declaring: “Free the abductees now, wherever they are held!”