Plateau teachers protest, demand urgent action on insecurity

Plateau State teachers under the aegis of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), on Tuesday, staged a peaceful protest over insecurity and other challenges affecting their members nationwide. The protesters, who carried placards bearing various inscriptions, demanded urgent government attention on security concerns nationwide. The teachers marched through major streets in Jos before proceeding to the Government House, Rayfield, where they presented a protest letter containing their demands to the state government. Speaking during the protest, the Plateau State Chairman of the NUT, Comrade Elisha Haruna, said the demonstration was in solidarity with teachers and students who have fallen victim to insecurity, particularly kidnapping, across the country. “We are here in solidarity with all our members who are victims of kidnapping, especially our members in Borno, Yobe, Plateau, Oyo and other states who are presently in the hands of kidnappers,” he said. Haruna lamented that the worsening security situation had made schools and classrooms unsafe for both teachers and pupils. “We are urging the Federal Government to take decisive action to address the security challenges confronting teachers because we can no longer feel safe in our classrooms,” he stated. The union leader also highlighted challenges confronting teachers in Plateau State, including delayed promotions and inadequate manpower in public schools. “We also have challenges at the local level which we want the state government to address. These include promotion-related issues and the shortage of teachers in our schools,” he added. Receiving the protest letter on behalf of the state government, the Special Adviser to Governor Caleb Mutfwang on Security, retired Brigadier General Gakji Shipi, commended the teachers for conducting themselves peacefully during the demonstration. Shipi assured the protesters that the state government would study their demands and take necessary steps towards addressing them. He reiterated the administration’s commitment to improving the welfare of teachers and tackling security challenges affecting residents of the state.