September 9, 2014 -Trade Union Congress (TUC) has called on the Federal Government to ignore pressure from owners of schools in Nigeria for schools to open by September 22, 2014.
In a statement, President and Secretary of TUC, Mallam Bobboi Kagama and Musa Lawal said the TUC cannot agree less with the government and health professionals, who have advised that resumption date of schools be extended until further notice after losing some experienced health workers and other innocent citizens.
“Prior to the Ebola outbreak there was security challenge which has so far remained unabated, even though it has claimed thousands of lives and displaced indigenes of the whole of North-east. In fact, as it stands now even if the crisis ends today billions of Naira would be required to reconstruct and rehabilitate people who have lost their properties and loved ones to the dread sect”, he said adding that the wisdom in government’s decision should be commended rather than calling for early resumption of schools which could spell doom for the country.
The TUC noted that while some students can maintain basic hygiene, others may not, stressing that the wisdom in federal government’s decision should be seen in the fact that it affords the proprietors and proprietresses of schools the opportunities to be prepared before the students would come in.
“ It must be noted that students are most vulnerable, because of relative ignorance. Hence we feel that to avoid further spread, schools should remain shut until further notice”, the TUC said.
