The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has warned that it may initiate a nationwide solidarity strike alongside teachers and other categories of workers if authorities fail to take urgent and decisive action against the worsening security situation and the increasing wave of kidnappings targeting pupils, students, teachers, and education workers across the country.
The warning was issued on Wednesday by the President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, in a statement expressing the labour movement’s support for the ongoing industrial action by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT). The teachers’ union had embarked on the protest in response to the growing number of abductions involving educators and schoolchildren in various parts of Nigeria.
Ajaero stated that the NLC fully identifies with the concerns raised by the NUT, stressing that the continued attacks on schools and educational personnel have created an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty within the sector. According to him, the strike action by teachers demonstrates a determination to safeguard their lives and the lives of the students under their care.
“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 noted that the coordinated action by teachers nationwide reflects a growing frustration among education workers who feel increasingly exposed to criminal attacks while carrying out their professional duties.
“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,” he added.
The labour leader praised the leadership of the NUT for what he described as a bold and responsible decision to withdraw services in protest against the deteriorating security environment. He argued that the safety of teachers and students must become a national priority, especially as incidents of school-related kidnappings continue to rise.
Ajaero further expressed concern about the broader implications of insecurity on essential public services. He observed that teachers are not the only group at risk, noting that healthcare workers, local government employees, and other frontline personnel have increasingly become targets of criminal elements operating across different regions of the country.
According to him, the growing insecurity has left many workers vulnerable and has raised serious concerns about the ability of public institutions to function effectively in affected communities.
The NLC president also highlighted reports and videos showing the conditions under which abducted schoolchildren are being held, particularly those kidnapped in Oyo State. He described the accounts as heartbreaking and disturbing, adding that they illustrate the urgent need for stronger government intervention.
“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 said.
Ajaero stressed that organised labour would not remain passive if authorities continue to respond with promises rather than concrete action. He warned that the NLC is prepared to mobilise workers across sectors in support of teachers and any other group affected by insecurity if the situation remains unresolved.
“We will not hesitate to embark on a solidarity action with the teachers or any other group of workers if government does not take issues of collective security more seriously,” he stated.
The labour leader recalled that the NLC has repeatedly engaged government authorities on security matters through advocacy campaigns, public demonstrations, and stakeholder summits. Despite these efforts, he maintained that the security situation has continued to deteriorate in many parts of the country.
He called on federal, state, and local authorities to move beyond public assurances and implement practical measures capable of rescuing victims currently in captivity, preventing future attacks, and restoring confidence in the nation’s security architecture.
Ajaero concluded by urging government institutions and security agencies to act swiftly to address the crisis, emphasizing that the protection of lives and property remains the most fundamental responsibility of any administration.
