The Oyo State Executive Council has appealed to the Nigerian Union of Teachers to suspend the ongoing school shutdown and allow students across the state to return to classrooms.
The appeal was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, after the council meeting held on Tuesday.
The NUT had earlier directed teachers in public schools across the state to stay away from classrooms following the 15 May 2026 abduction of teachers and pupils in Oriire Local Government Area.
The incident, which involved the abduction of 46 persons, including 39 pupils and seven teachers from Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School; and L.A. Primary School, Esiele, has heightened concerns over insecurity and safety in schools.
A teacher, Joel Adesiyan, was killed during the attack, while another victim, Mathematics teacher Michael Oyedokun, was later reportedly beheaded in captivity.
The union maintained that public schools would only reopen after adequate security measures had been put in place.
Speaking earlier, NUT Secretary, Olukayode Salami, said the withdrawal of teachers was driven by growing insecurity and the need to protect both educators and learners.
Government appeals for reconsideration
Appealing to the union, Mr Oyelade said the government understood the concerns but warned that prolonged closure could trigger broader social and economic consequences.
“While the reasons for the withdrawal of the students from school by the NUT are understandable, the collateral implications, both social and economic, are raising unintended concerns and should equally be considered by the NUT,” he said.
He assured residents that strategic actions were ongoing to address the kidnapping situation and restore confidence in public education.
Council approves education funding
As part of efforts to strengthen learning outcomes, the council approved the release of N8.77bn as an initial tranche for the procurement of teaching and learning materials for primary and junior secondary schools out of a total project cost of N23.01bn.
According to Mr Oyelade, the materials will cover numeracy, literacy, mathematics, English language and basic science under programmes supported by the Universal Basic Education Commission and the World Bank.
He added that successful implementation could qualify Oyo State for performance-based funding tied to student outcomes.
Other approvals
The council also approved a supplementary adjustment of the 2026 budget, increasing it from N892.09bn to N1.10tn to support completion of ongoing projects.
Additionally, approval was granted for Oyo State’s participation in implementation programmes under the African Continental Free Trade Area initiative, including payment of $250,000 to support investment mobilisation efforts.
Council also approved N5.91bn for implementation of the 2026 Sustainable Action for Economic Recovery programme focused on health insurance and food security interventions.
Police deny inviting monarch
Meanwhile, the Oyo State Police Command dismissed reports claiming the Elesinele of Esinele in Oriire Local Government Area, High Chief Tajudeen Abioye, had been invited for questioning over the school abduction.
In a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Olayinka Ayanlade, the command described the report as false and misleading.
The police urged residents to disregard unverified information and assured the public that security agencies remain committed to rescuing victims and bringing perpetrators to justice.
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