The Academic Staff Union of Universities has urged the federal government not to reopen schools in the country yet as such a step would be ‘suicidal’.
ASUU National President, Prof Biodun Ogunyemi, made this position known on Monday while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria in Ota, Ogun State.
Ogunyemi stated that meeting all the conditions for reopening schools set out by the NCDC should be the prerequisite for reopening schools in the country.
He said, “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 NCDC to include the provision of materials for regular handwashing, provision of face masks, isolations spaces, hands sanitisers, amongst others.
He said many government-owned schools don’t have financial capacities to meet the outlined conditions.
He said, “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.”
