COVID-19: Federal Govt Condemns Makinde Over Plan To Reopen Schools

President Muhammadu Buhari-led government has condemned the decision of the Oyo State Government to reopen schools amidst Coronavirus pandemic.

The Federal Government on Monday described the move as “insensitive” to the health of the people.

The Minister of State for Education, Mr Emeka Uwajiuba, condemned the move by the Governor Seyi Makinde government at the Presidential Task Force daily briefing.

Recall that the Oyo State Governor had earlier announced the reopening of schools across the state.

The minister noted that it is expedient to recognise the fact that Oyo State is a government operating under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a Federating unit.

He stated that though the governor has the right to reopen schools in the state, the primary purpose of governance is the protection of lives and properties.

Uwajiuba said the Federal Government has over 138,000 schools in Nigeria and for the governor to open the schools was in the “very least insensitive”.

The Minister called on parents to keep their children under their watch till the virus is defeated.1

He pleaded with parents and guardians, whose children would be writing the West African Examinations Council to bear with the government, pending when the necessary arrangements would be made.

Uwajiuba noted that if there is anything the government needs to put in place, it would surely do so.

Uwajiuba stated that the ministry had fixed a meeting with WAEC on how it would arrange the examination time for the student, for revisions in their subjects, to be able to prepare well for their exams.