The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has on Monday, asked the Federal Government not to reopen Schools in the country, without making resources available, amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Page 36 learnt.
ASUU argued that the government must make resources available, in order for Schools to meet the proposed conditions by the Federal Ministry of Education.
The Academic Union’s National President, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, made the position known, while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Ota, Ogun State.
He urged the government to provide the ideal environment, and meet the conditions spelt out by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, before reopening Schools across the country.
His words: “The Federal Government must lead and show the ways, by meeting the conditions for reopening of Schools, before any School can be allowed to open, because Covid-19 pandemic is a health challenge.
“When it comes to public health, it is something that should not be left in the hands of individuals, but the Federal Government must take the lead.”
The ASUU President listed the conditions spelt out by the NCDC, to include the provision of materials for regular hand washing, provision of face masks, isolation spaces, hands sanitisers, among others.
He said that many government-owned Schools do not have financial capacities to meet the outlined conditions.
He added: “It is suicidal to reopen Schools now, if the Federal Government itself could not meet the conditions spelt out by the NCDC and the World Health Organisation. The nation will expose innocent children to avoidable risks.”
