Covid-19: Don’t reopen schools now, it’s dangerous, NUT warns FG

The Nigeria Union of Teachers on Thursday cautioned the Federal Government against the January 18 resumption date for schools across the country .

The NUT Secretary – General , Dr Mike Ike -Ene , who stated this in an interview with one of our correspondents, said there was no need to hurriedly resume, if the rate of COVID -19 infection kept increasing .
Ike- Ene stated that if coronavirus infection was increasing, teachers would stay at home.

Recalled that the Presidential Task Force on COVID – 19 had on December 17 said the country had entered COVID – 19 second wave .

On December 21, the PTF, at its press briefing , said the Federal Government had ordered all schools to remain shut until January 18 as part of the efforts to battle COVID – 19 second wave .

Ike- Ene in the interview with
The PUNCH , explained that it was important to critically study the infection rate as schools awaited the January 18th resumption date given by the Federal Government .

He stated , “ I am someone who believes in life and it is when there is life that you can have a proposal . The number we are having shows that this ( second wave ) is more horrible. If the PTF and the NCDC ( Nigeria Centre for Disease Control) are able to tell us about the new discoveries, then we can decide if we should stay at home or resume.

“ As for all the COVID – 19 protocols, our teachers have been practising them in our schools. That was why WASSCE ( West African Senior School Certificate Examination) was held. If they feel this one is more rapid in terms of new infections, it means that teachers will stay at home.

“ The Federal Government has said resumption is January 18. Let ’ s watch out , if by 18th ( of January) , it keeps increasing , then one will advise that the students should tarry. Let them remain at home. There is no point rushing and risking lives.

“ There is no point rushing, although our students have wasted time , I think our students ; especially the undergraduates, are in a hurry to go back to school. If the number keeps increasing the way it is , it means we may take some few weeks to look at it properly. ”

He also advised that teachers and students should be the first set of people to be considered for the coronavirus vaccines when they arrive in the country.

Ike- Ene said these people were vulnerable and it was important to protect them as they constituted the present and future of Nigeria .