Nigeria, June 24 -- Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has appealed to the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) to suspend its ongoing strike and reopen public schools across the state, assuring residents that efforts are being intensified to secure the release of abducted pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area.

The appeal came as the Oyo State Executive Council approved N8.7 billion for the procurement of teaching and learning materials for primary and junior secondary schools.

Dotun Oyelade, the commissioner for information, disclosed the decisions in a statement issued after the State Executive Council meeting.

The appeal follows the decision of the NUT to shut public schools across Oyo State in protest against worsening ins...