Hon. Bamidele Salam, representing the Ede North/Ede South/Egbedore/Ejigbo Federal Constituency, has delivered a pointed critique of the Nigerian leadership’s response to school-based insecurity. Speaking during a plenary session at the House of Representatives on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, the lawmaker argued that many public office holders remain detached from the security crisis because their own children are shielded in private schools or educated abroad.

A Call for Equitable Protection

Hon. Salam used a poignant Yoruba proverb to illustrate the disparity in how security threats are treated: "If a lion comes into a village and kills the children of the poor, there may be no noise, there may be no mourning, but when the day the lion comes into the village and kills a child of the king, the whole city is turned into a graveyard."

He contended that because the children of the political elite are insulated from the risks faced by the children of laborers, teachers, and ordinary citizens in public schools, there is a lack of urgency in addressing the vulnerability of the national education system. He urged his colleagues to recognize that the lives of students in public institutions are as valuable as those of public officials who already receive state-funded protection.

Proposed Solutions

To address these persistent threats, the lawmaker put forward several recommendations:

Dedicated Security Force: The Federal Government should establish a specialized security architecture a "special force" specifically designed to protect schools nationwide.

Revitalization of Existing Frameworks: He pointed out that a school security system previously existed under the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) but failed due to a lack of adequate funding. He argued that the government must provide the necessary financial support for such initiatives.

Proactive Governance: Addressing recent security incidents in Oyo State and elsewhere, he stressed that authorities must move beyond reactive measures to provide tangible reassurance and comfort to victims of terror attacks.

Legislative Stance

Hon. Salam flatly rejected the notion that securing thousands of schools across the country is an impossible task. He maintained that if the government possesses the capacity to provide security for its public officials and critical institutions, it is equally capable of securing the children of the poor.