Teachers in Lagos State have called on the government and security agencies to take decisive action to ensure schools across the state are safe for learning and teaching.
The educators made the call on Wednesday through their umbrella body, the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Lagos State Wing, during its fourth annual lecture and award series.
The event was held in honour of the union’s former National President, Mr. Michael Olukoya.
The public discourse, themed “School Safety: Stakeholders’ Strategy and Inputs,” brought together school administrators and educators across the six education districts.
Also in attendance were government officials and security personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Addressing the gathering, the Lagos State Chairman of the NUT, Comrade Hassan Akintoye, underscored the importance of quality education to national development.
He maintained that real learning can only take place where learners and teachers feel secure.
“Schools are meant to be places of knowledge, innovation, and character development, and not where insecurity, violence, bullying, abuse, drug-related activities, or environmental hazards threaten lives,” Akintoye stated.
“A safe school is therefore one where every child feels protected, teachers discharge their duties without fear of attack, and parents confidently release their children, knowing they will return home safely.”
While acknowledging that school safety is a shared responsibility, Akintoye asserted that the government bears the primary duty of protecting lives and property.
According to him, the government must provide secure environments through adequate infrastructure, including perimeter fencing, functional security systems, emergency response mechanisms, and policies that prioritised safety.
The NUT Chairman also highlighted the critical role of technology in school security, advocating for the deployment of surveillance systems, digital attendance tracking, visitor management procedures, emergency communication channels, and regular safety drills.
“All these must be done proactively and not reactively,” he added.
Akintoye expressed optimism that the annual lecture, which brought together experts and policymakers, would proffer lasting solutions to this national concern.
He noted that while Lagos State remains relatively peaceful, the government and residents must not become complacent or relaxed in preventing potential school attacks.
He commended the Lagos State Government for its commitment to quality education, teacher welfare, and capacity building.
He also praised the Ecobank Development Corporation (EDC) for equipping union members with financial literacy and retirement preparation skills.
A major highlight of the event was the presentation of papers by key stakeholders, including the state Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Jamiu Alli-Balogun; the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Tijani Fatai; the State Director of DSS, Mr. Babajide Salako; and the State Commandant of the NSCDC, Adedotun Sunday Keshinro.
While Alli-Balogun spoke on the central theme of the event, other security chiefs addressed specialised topics. CP Fatai (represented by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Finance and Administration, Anthony Okonkwo) and NSCDC’s Adedotun (represented by the State Public Relations Officer, Oluwaseun Abolurin) spoke on “Adopting School Threat Assessment and Security Crisis Response Strategy.”
Meanwhile, the DSS boss, Salako, delivered a presentation on “Schools’ Surveillance and Intelligence Gathering: The Stakeholders’ Awareness Agenda.”
The four speakers unanimously acknowledged their roles in ensuring that the academic community—both public and private—remains safe for learning across Lagos State and Nigeria.
However, they emphasised that collaboration with other stakeholders—including teachers, students, parents, and community leaders—would yield better results as the work should not be left for them alone.
They urged participants to remain security-conscious and take proactive steps to make schools and the wider society safer.