The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has painted a grim picture of the country’s education sector, lamenting that rising insecurity has forced many teachers to carry out their duties under constant fear, with some now teaching “with one eye open and one eye closed.”
The union warned that persistent attacks on schools, kidnappings and killings were creating an atmosphere of anxiety that was undermining learning and threatening the future of education in Nigeria.
National President of NUT, Comrade Audu Amba raised the concern while speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the 114th Session of the International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva, Switzerland.
According to him, teachers across the country, particularly those in rural communities, now face daily security threats that have turned classrooms into places of fear rather than learning.
He said: “Even if you are teaching in an urban centre today, you are teaching with one eye open and one eye closed. Not to talk of teachers in remote villages where the threat is even greater.”
The labour leader said what began as isolated security incidents has gradually evolved into a nationwide challenge affecting schools, teachers and learners alike.
“It started as if it was something that could be nipped in the bud, but today we are beginning to see it escalating even to other parts of the country. The future of education in Nigeria is beginning to be shaken.”
Amba noted that the growing insecurity is not only endangering lives but also affecting the quality of teaching and learning, as educators struggle to concentrate while worrying about possible attacks.
He cited recent incidents in parts of the country, including Kebbi, Niger and Oyo states, where teachers and learners have either been abducted, attacked or forced to flee for safety.
According to him, many rural communities
have become increasingly difficult places for teachers to work, leading to concerns over staffing shortages and declining access to education in vulnerable areas.
“When education is threatened by insecurity, then something must have gone wrong somewhere. Government must become more proactive because the responsibility of government is to protect lives and property, including schools.”
The NUT president disclosed that the union recently directed teachers in Oyo State to stay away from work following security concerns and the abduction of education personnel and learners to safeguard the lives of members.
“Your life comes before your job. If people know they will be attacked when they go to work, they will not go. That was why we directed our members to remain at home until their colleagues and the learners involved were rescued,” he explained.
Amba warned that the continued exposure of teachers and learners to insecurity could have far-reaching consequences for the nation’s educational development.
He said children who experience trauma, displacement or repeated school disruptions are unlikely to achieve their full academic potential, while teachers working under fear cannot deliver quality education.
“As long as teachers and learners are living in fear, meaningful learning cannot take place. The safety of schools must become a national priority.”
He called on the Federal Government to intensify efforts to secure schools and communities, stressing that while citizens have a role to play in providing intelligence, the ultimate responsibility for protecting lives rests with government.
“Security is everybody’s business. Community leaders, parents and citizens must remain vigilant and provide useful information whenever they notice suspicious movements. But the primary responsibility still rests with government,” Amba added.
The NUT boss maintained that unless urgent action was taken to stem insecurity, the country’s education system risks suffering deeper setbacks, with teachers and learners bearing the greatest burden.
