The Oyo State Government has appealed to the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) to suspend its ongoing withdrawal of teachers from public schools and allow academic activities to resume across the state.
The appeal follows disruptions to the school calendar caused by the union’s decision to pull teachers out of classrooms over growing security concerns, particularly the abduction of teachers and pupils in Oriire Local Government Area.
The government’s position was made known in a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, after a meeting of the Oyo State Executive Council in Ibadan.
The dispute stems from the tragic abduction of 46 people on May 15, including 39 schoolchildren and seven teachers from three public schools in Oriire Local Government Area.
The victims were kidnapped during coordinated attacks on Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School; and L.A. Primary School, Esiele.
The incident claimed the life of a teacher, Joel Adesiyan, while another teacher, Michael Oyedokun, reportedly died while being held captive.
In response, the Nigerian Union of Teachers directed its members in public schools across Oyo State to withdraw their services until stronger security measures are put in place to protect both teachers and students.
The union insists that the safety of its members and schoolchildren remains its top priority and has maintained that schools should not fully resume until adequate security guarantees are provided.
However, the state government believes the prolonged closure of schools could negatively affect students, parents, and the education sector as a whole.
According to Oyelade, while government understands the concerns raised by teachers, keeping students out of classrooms for an extended period could create serious academic, social, and economic challenges.
He assured residents that efforts are ongoing to improve security and secure the release of the remaining abducted victims.
Meanwhile, the Executive Council approved the release of more than ₦8.7 billion for the procurement of teaching and learning materials for primary and junior secondary schools across the state.
The funding forms part of a broader education intervention project valued at over ₦23 billion being implemented in partnership with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and the World Bank.
In another major decision, the council approved a supplementary budget that increased the state’s 2026 budget from about ₦892 billion to more than ₦1 trillion to accommodate ongoing development projects across various ministries, departments, and agencies.
The government also approved funding for programmes linked to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), aimed at attracting investment and expanding economic opportunities within the state.
On the security situation, the Oyo State Police Command dismissed reports claiming that the Elesinele of Esinele, High Chief Tajudeen Abioye, was invited for questioning in connection with the Oriire abduction case.
Police spokesperson Olayinka Ayanlade described the reports as false and misleading, stressing that the traditional ruler had not been invited by the command over the matter.
The police reaffirmed their commitment to working with other security agencies and stakeholders to rescue the remaining victims and ensure those responsible for the abductions are brought to justice.
Authorities also urged members of the public to avoid spreading unverified information that could interfere with ongoing rescue efforts and investigations.
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