It’s not still safe to reopen schools, NMA, NUT fault FG 

The Nigerian Medical Association and the Nigeria Union of   Teachers, on Tuesday, took a swipe at the  Federal Government over its  “safe reopening of schools”.

The apex organisations of medical doctors and teachers in the country told The PUNCH that the directive that graduating classes should resume was not only badly thought-out, but also could expose both teachers and pupils to the deadly coronavirus.

The NMA President, Prof Innocent Ujah, who spoke to one of our correspondents in Jos, said that given the current low level of compliance by Nigerians with  COVID-19 safety protocols, it was risky to ask pupils to resume.

The NUT General Secretary, Mike Ene, said government was playing politics with the directive. He wondered how teachers, who had not been paid salaries in some states, would get money to buy personal protective equipment.

Ujah and Ene spoke just as the Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, on Tuesday became the latest prominent Nigerian to test positive for the virus.

Following the governor’s disclosure of his COVID-19 status, the state government ordered commissioners and other aides of Akeredolu to compulsorily go for the coronavirus test.

But as concerns mounted over the spread of COVID-19, the NMA  faulted  Monday’s pronouncement by the Federal Government on the reopening of schools.

The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, at its briefing in Abuja, said the government in what it called “safe reopening of schools,” had approved resumption of pupils in graduating classes including primary six, the Junior Secondary School 3 and the Senior Secondary School 3.

Following the governor’s disclosure of his COVID-19 status, the state government ordered commissioners and other aides of Akeredolu to compulsorily go for the coronavirus test.

But as concerns mounted over the spread of COVID-19, the NMA  faulted  Monday’s pronouncement by the Federal Government on the reopening of schools.

The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, at its briefing in Abuja, said the government in what it called “safe reopening of schools,” had approved resumption of pupils in graduating classes including primary six, the Junior Secondary School 3 and the Senior Secondary School 3.

The government also lifted the ban it placed on interstate travels and domestic flights.

In approving the resumption of graduating classes, it said water must be provided in schools for hand-washing and both pupils and teachers must wear face masks while observing social distancing.

Many schools don’t have water – NMA

Faulting the FG, the NMA president asked, “What is the compliance of the citizens in terms of regular hand-washing and other safety protocols?  At the moment, many of the schools don’t even have water. Obviously, it becomes very difficult to say that schools should reopen because you have to wash your hands regularly.

Again, I don’t know how the teachers would be teaching with face masks and all the pupils will wear face masks.  If you are not used to face masks, you may not breath well,  particularly  if  the one you have   is not standard.”

He also said it would be difficult to observe social distancing in crowded classrooms. Ujah stated, “I believe the government should think about it. If they can stay a little, people have to be alive to go to school and the way things are happening, the compliance level is still very low.  I don’t think it is appropriate to open the schools now.”

We can’t resume, we don’t want to die, teachers tell FG

Also, the NUT general secretary said government was not serious with his directive. He said teachers could not resume because nobody wanted to die.

He stated, “I don’t know who is going to use his own child as a guinea pig. It is only those who are alive that can speak of keeping hope alive. How can we resume? Does anybody want to die?”

Ene said if government wanted teachers to resume, they should be provided with necessary materials and incentives.

Teachers are being taken for granted, govt yet to provide PPE,  says NUT

The NUT general secretary stated, “The NUT is saying that the government has not assured us properly to go back to school. Has the NCDC (Nigeria Centre for Disease Control) moved around to make sure that the isolation centres are provided in schools? What measures have they told us have been provided for teachers to come back?

We are being taken for granted.  Teachers are parents and human beings too and their children don’t want to lose them out of carelessness. We are ready. We are not afraid to teach. But government has not shown commitment for us to go back to school. All what the government is doing is mere politics.

“When you talk of guidelines, we have passed the stage of talking without actions. I just read a text from a certain school asking my daughter who is going to take final exams to come back. They are demanding sanitisers, face marks and other consumables, thereby throwing back the burden to parents who have already been overstretched with feeding their children since they have been at home.

But government has reneged on what it should do. In a class of 60, 40 or 70 pupils, you’re talking of physical and social distancing. Can a teacher take a class from 8am to 2pm, 2pm to 5pm and 5pm to 10pm? What is the PPE that government has given to teachers?

“If a teacher is going to face many pupils in a class, and has no PPE, how will the teacher function or they expect him to use his meagre salary? I don’t know if government is aware that as of today so many states and local  governments are owing teachers.

Akeredolu tests positive, orders aides to go for test

Meanwhile, the Ondo State governor, who disclosed his status via his Twitter handle, said it would not affect his victory in the state governorship election.

The governor, who said he tested positive for the virus, wrote,  “Earlier today, I got confirmation of a positive result for COVID-19. I am asymptomatic and not displaying any symptoms. I am currently self-isolating and supervised home management will be administered by the wonderful team at our infectious disease hospital. I ask that we all stay safe and be well.”

Akeredolu, however, boasted in a video on the Twitter account, that his being tested positive for the virus did not mark the end of the road for his second term aspiration. He expressed optimism that he would secure the ticket of the party and win the October governorship election.

The governor stated, “I had malaria a few days ago and I was treated and I did get over it . And as of the time we had our party NEC meeting (National Executive Council), and my colleagues called  and I spoke with one of them who felt that malaria should not be treated lightly that I should go ahead and have a test for COVID -19.

“The result came out today, June 30, 2020 and I tested positive but asymptomatic. I am not feeling sick nor feeling feverish anyway. But my doctors have advised that I should take the normal treatment and self-isolate. I believe that supervised home management will be ideal for me now. So, for now, I will be isolated.

“Let me assure our people that as you can see me, there are many of us that don’t have the symptoms that are there and you cannot see it. This time, we would conduct another test and we will know the result. Let me assure our people that the work is going on.”

The governor directed all his cabinet members and other aides to go for the COVID-19 test compulsorily.

The state Commissioner for Information, Mr Donald Ojogo, who stated this in a statement, also confirmed that  Akeredolu had gone on self-isolation.

He said , “Governor Akeredolu has directed all members of the cabinet, close aides and others who have had reasons for constant contacts with him to undergo compulsory tests.

“Mr Governor has resolved to self-isolate in line with accepted global standards in respect of COVID-19 protocols. This becomes  necessary in order to ensure a proper determination and direction of focus.”

Source: Punch

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