Nigerian teachers boycott school for Chibok Girls

The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) on Wednesday directed its members all over the country to remain at home on Thursday, May 21, 2014, in order to protest last month’s abduction of 276 female students from Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State by Boko Haram.

Giving the directive at a news conference in Abuja on Wednesday, NUT National President, Mr Micheal Olukoya, said the union had resolved to hold #BringBackOurGirls rallies simultaneously across the 36 States of the federation and Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

“All schools nationwide shall be closed, as the day will be our day of protest against the abduction of female students in Chibok and the heartless murder of 173 teachers,” NAN quoted Olukoya as saying.

“We remain resolute in our resolve to continue the campaign even as we mourn the death of our colleagues. We will continue with the protest until our girls are brought back safe and alive and the perpetrators of the heinous crime are brought to book.”

He disclosed that Boko Haram has killed a total of 173 teachers from Borno and Yobe States, and therefore urged the government to show concern to the plight of the deceased teachers by compensating their families to sooth their misery.

He called on the federal government to be alive to its social responsibility to the people by protecting their lives and property, and showing more commitment to their welfare.

“The NUT joins the world to call on the insurgents and their collaborators to bring back our girls safe and alive,” he said.

“This is an assault on humanity, an attack on our professional industry, the school system; and we will be quick to tell the insurgents that the school system remains the proud industry of teachers.

“The innocent school boys and girls are the raw materials we process for the human resource development of the nation. It is also important to take insurance cover for both students and teachers in the vulnerable political environment of the country.”

He argued for the public declaration of education as a fundamental human right, as well as the criminalisatiion of  its abridgment.

He said that teachers were now living under constant fear of attacks, and he urged government to make provision to secure the school system in order to guarantee conducive environment for learning in the country.

He also commended the international community for standing by the country during this critical period.