The African Regional Organisation of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC-Africa) has demanded the rescue of teachers and students who were abducted in Oyo State.

The General Secretary of the labour group, Joel Odigie, in a solidarity statement to the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and all workers affected by the growing wave of insecurity and abductions across Nigeria, commended Nigeria labour movement for taking a principled stand in defence of teachers, students, and communities who continue to live and work under the threat of violence, kidnapping, and fear.

ITUC-Africa said the repeated abduction of schoolchildren and teachers is more than a security challenge, adding that it is a direct assault on the social contract between citizens and the state. A country that cannot protect its children is a danger to itself.

It maintained that the protection of life and security is not a political favour, but a constitutional duty.

According to the ITUC-Africa, the first responsibility of the government is the foundation upon which education, employment, investment, and development depend, adding that a country that fails to protect its own children is a danger to itself.

“ITUC-Africa is deeply concerned that mass abductions are increasingly resembling a criminal industry. Schools and communities must never become hunting grounds for criminal networks.

Governments at all levels must act decisively to dismantle these networks, rescue victims, strengthen security institutions, and restore public confidence. The state must not allow conditions in which terrorist and criminal groups can normalise the kidnapping of children and workers as a profitable enterprise,” it stated.

It argued that the consequences of insecurity extend far beyond the immediate victims.

It said insecurity destroys livelihoods, disrupts education, discourages investment, weakens public services, and undermines productivity.

ITUC-Africa maintained that workers cannot produce under fear, saying, “Teachers cannot teach under fear. Children cannot learn in fear. We, therefore, urge the Federal Government of Nigeria and all relevant authorities to move beyond routine assurances and take urgent, measurable action to secure schools, workplaces, and communities. The Nigerian people deserve safety, dignity, and peace. ITUC-Africa joins the NLC in demanding the immediate and unconditional release of all abducted teachers, pupils, students, and other citizens wherever they are being held. The warning signs are clear. The costs of delay are mounting. Act now before it is too late.”

Additionally, the continental labour group has also joined workers’ organisations, trade unionists and allies from across the continent to rally on the margins of the 114th session of the International

Labour Conference to demand decisive action against kleptocracy, extreme inequality and violent conflicts across the African continent.

ITUC-Africa insisted that kleptocracy, inequality and violent conflicts are undermining democracy, development and social justice in Africa.

It stated that across the continent, workers and citizens continue to bear the high costs of corruption, Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs), state capture and unsustainable debt.

It observed that resources that should finance schools, hospitals, social protection systems, infrastructure and decent jobs are too often diverted away from the public good.

ITUC-Africa and its allies called for stronger measures to combat corruption and illicit financial flows, promote transparency and accountability, and implement progressive taxation, including fair taxation of high-net-worth individuals and multinational corporations.

The rally highlighted the urgent need to confront rising inequality.