*Abduction: Oyo NUT Suspends Strike, Directs Teachers To Resume Thursday 

OYO State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Wednesday, July 1, dropped the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Toyin Balogun, and replaced her with Faosat Sanni, in a minor cabinet reshuffle.

    A statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Sulaimon Olarenwaju, in Ibadan, said the redeployment takes immediate effect.

    Makinde, while thanking Balogun for her contributions to the development of the state, wished her success in her future endeavour.

     Sanni had served in the same portfolio between 2019 and 2023, moved to the Ministry of Special Duties and later redeployed to the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Investment and Cooperative.

    The governor, on Tuesday, June 30, forwarded the name of the Permanent Secretary, General Administration, Olabode Ladipo, to the House of Assembly, as a commissioner-nominee.

    He also appointed Ifeoluwa Akande as Chairman, Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport Upgrade Committee; Isola Adekunle as Executive Adviser, Intra-Party Affairs; and Oladejo Oladokun as Part-Time member, Local Government Service Commission.

    According to a letter signed by the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Segun Ogunwuyi, the appointments take effect from July 1.

     Meanwhile, the state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has suspended its strike in public schools over the abduction of students and teachers in Oriire Local Council, following renewed engagements with the government and assurances received concerning measures to improve security after the.

    NUT, in a statement jointly signed by its state Chairman, Hassan Fatai, and Secretary, Olukayode Salami, said the suspension followed a directive from its national leadership after reviewing the prevailing security situation and considering appeals by the state government and other key stakeholders.

    It directed all public primary and secondary school teachers across the state to resume official duties from Thursday, July 2.

    The union stated that the decision was taken in the collective interest of teachers, learners and the public after the government assurances that sustained efforts were ongoing to secure the safe release of the abducted victims and strengthen security around schools and surrounding communities.

    It said government had made several commitments to prevent future attacks, including establishment of a well-equipped Joint Security Task Force to patrol vulnerable schools and access routes, continuous engagement with affected families, psychosocial support and rehabilitation for rescued victims and payment of gratuities and other entitlements to the families of deceased teachers.

    Others include strengthening the Safe School Initiative through public sensitisation and early warning systems, improving emergency response mechanisms, addressing criminal hideouts, upgrading school infrastructure, tackling illegal mining and open grazing in forest reserves, enhancing community intelligence gathering, ensuring speedy prosecution of criminal suspects, improving the welfare of security personnel and deploying technology to bolster school security.

    NUT commended its members, All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS) and Association of Primary School Head Teachers of Nigeria (AOPSHON) for their discipline, solidarity and compliance throughout the period of the industrial action, which it said was instrumental in advancing the welfare and security of teachers and learners.

    While directing members to return to their duty posts, it charged them to remain vigilant, obey the law and promptly report any security threats within their schools and communities to the appropriate authorities. 

    The union restated its commitment to protecting the welfare and security of teachers, adding that it would continue to engage government until all outstanding concerns regarding the safety of teachers and students are fully addressed.

    The teachers embarked on the strike over the recent abduction of over 40 teachers and students in the state early last month, who remain in captivity over one month after.