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The Nigeria Union of Teachers has condemned the recent attacks on schools, teachers and students in parts of the country, describing the incidents as barbaric and inhuman.

In a statement jointly signed by the National President of the union, Audu Amba, and the Secretary General, Clinton Ikpitibo, the union said schools, which should serve as safe spaces for teaching and learning, have become targets of attacks by armed bandits and terrorists.

The union said the development has created fear, panic and emotional trauma among teachers, students, parents and members of affected communities.

The statement followed attacks on Local Authority Primary School, Ahoro-Esinele, Community High School, Ahoro-Esinele, and Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, all in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State on May 15, 2026.

According to the union, the attacks led to the abduction of a school principal, seven teachers and more than 30 pupils and students, while one teacher was shot dead during the incident.

The NUT said it was particularly painful that the slain teacher was wearing his union attire at the time he was killed, describing him as committed to the teaching profession and the advancement of education.

The union also expressed concern over reports that one of the abducted teachers was later beheaded by the attackers.

It further noted that on the same day, more than 40 pupils and students were reportedly abducted by armed bandits from Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary Schools in Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.

The NUT said it stands in solidarity with the affected schools, the families of the murdered teachers, the abducted principal, teachers, pupils and students.

The union called on security agencies to intensify rescue operations to secure the safe release of all abducted victims without delay.

It also urged the Federal Government and affected state governments to strengthen security around schools and adopt proactive measures to prevent future attacks.

According to the union, the continued attacks on schools pose a major threat to the education sector and the future of children and the country at large.

“Teachers cannot effectively discharge their duties in an atmosphere of fear and insecurity, where they are subjected to inhuman acts of kidnapping, maiming and killing,” the statement said.

The NUT warned that teachers may be forced to withdraw their services if attacks on schools continue unabated.

The union called on governments at all levels to take urgent action to stop attacks on schools and ensure the safety of teachers, learners and host communities.

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to fully embrace digitisation, declaring that the era of manual inefficiency in Nigeria’s public service must come to an end.

Tinubu gave the directive on Wednesday at the opening of the International Civil Service Conference 2026 in Abuja, where he said the Federal Government was repositioning the Civil Service to deliver faster, transparent and citizen-focused services.

Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, the President said the public service under his Renewed Hope Agenda was shifting from policy formulation to measurable results.

He disclosed that 38 Ministries and Extra-Ministerial Departments had already transitioned to fully paperless and secure electronic workflow systems, describing the development as a major milestone in governance reform.

“When we spoke of digitalisation in 2025, some may have considered it an ambition for the distant future. Today, with 38 Ministries and Extra-Ministerial Departments operating on a secure, paperless and end-to-end electronic workflow system, we are sending a clear message: Nigeria is building a public service that enables progress,” he said.

Tinubu stressed that bureaucracy must no longer serve as a bottleneck to development but as a driver of efficiency, innovation and inclusive growth.

He also revealed that the ongoing Personnel Audit and Skills Gap Analysis initiated after the previous conference was nearing completion, noting that the exercise would help identify competency gaps and reposition civil servants for modern governance demands.

“We are identifying gaps, strengthening competencies and ensuring that the right people are placed in the right roles, equipped with the digital skills and professional discipline required for 21st-century governance,” he stated.

The President linked the reforms to the Federal Government’s Project BRIDGE initiative — Building Resilient Digital Infrastructure for Growth — which he said would improve connectivity, create jobs and strengthen service delivery nationwide.

He consequently directed all MDAs to sustain and expand digital processes across their operations.

“The era of manual inefficiency must give way to a culture of speed, transparency, data-driven decision-making and citizen-centred service,” Tinubu declared.

The President further urged participants at the conference to ensure that ongoing reforms translate into tangible and lasting outcomes, insisting that Nigerians expect efficient service delivery and accountability from public institutions.

He added that the Civil Service must continue to justify public confidence through improved performance and institutional resilience before officially declaring the conference open.

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Esther Walson-Jack, in her remarks, said reforms under the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021–2025 had significantly transformed operations across the service.

According to her, the reforms have strengthened institutional performance, improved service delivery and introduced innovative digital tools reshaping governance processes.

Walson-Jack cited the introduction of platforms such as Service-Wise GPT as evidence of the Civil Service’s commitment to innovation, efficiency and technology-driven governance.

She added that collaboration among MDAs had played a key role in sustaining the momentum of reforms and assured that the Civil Service would continue evolving into a more agile and professional institution capable of meeting Nigeria’s development needs.

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A Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled judgment for June 5 on a suit seeking the deregistration of some political parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC), over alleged constitutional breaches.

Justice Peter Lifu selected the date on Wednesday after lawyers to parties made their final submissions and adopted their final written addresses.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026, filed by the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators has the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and several political parties, including the ADC, Action Alliance, Accord Party and Zenith Labour Party as defendants.

In his final submission, plaintiff’s lawyer, Yakubu Abdullahi Ruba (SAN) argued that the affected political parties failed to satisfy constitutional requirements relating to electoral spread and performance.

Ruba, who cited past Supreme Court to support his position, contended that political parties are required to secure at least 25 percent of votes in prescribed elections to retain relevance under the law.

He urged the court to order the deregistration of the parties, insisting that none of the defendants had successfully countered the argument.

AGF’s lawyer, A. Abdulrahman said the AGF has constitutional powers to defend and support actions aimed at ensuring compliance with the Constitution.

Abdulrahman urged the court to determine whether the political parties listed as third to seventh defendants in the suit have breached constitutional provisions.

Lawyers to the political parties, being sought to be deregistered, prayed the court to dismiss the suit with substantial cost .

In earlier rulings on Wednesday, Justice Lifu dismissed applications for stay of proceedings and others filed by some politicians and political parties,who sought to be made parties in the suit.

Those whose applications were dismissed include Osun State’s governor, Ademola Adeleke and Oluwafemi Abayomi Adebambi (both of the Accord party), and Hon. Sani Yakubu Noma of the ADC.

In dismissing the applications for joinder, the judge held that most of the political parties seeking to be made parties in the case are members of the political parties, who are already listed as defendants in the suit, making the inclusion of individual members of the same political parties unnecessary.

Justice Lifu also heard arguments on an application filed by the Action Peoples Party (APP), whose lawyer, Peter Abang, prayed the court to dismiss the suit on the grounds that issues raised in it had already been argued before the Court of Appeal.

Ruling, Justice Lifu said he would consider the decision of the Court of Appeal as it relates to the present case before his court along with issues raised by other parties before delivering the final judgment.