ABEOKUTA– The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ogun State Chapter has expressed shock over the directive by the State Government directing SSS3 boarding Students in Private Secondary schools to undergo a compulsory Covid-19 test at the cost of N25,000 while it bears the cost of students in Public Schools.
The Labour body, through a press release signed by the State Chairman, Comrade Emmanuel Bankole and it’s Acting Secretary, Comrade Olatunji Ayuba said that the action of the state government portrayed it as insensitive to the plight of the citizenry.
The release which reads in part, “The Congress is shocked, that the State Government can contemplate any measure or policy that will further add to the burden of the Citizenry and Parents. In this instance, bearing in mind the Socio-Economic which Nigerians are grappling with as a result of COVID-19 Pandemic”
“The action of government portrayed her as being insensitive to the plight of its Citizenry, especially when we compare thia with what is done in other clime, where their governments introduced many palliative measures and even cash grant to families, to cushion the effect of the Pandemic”.
The Labour union therefore stated that it condemn in strong terms the introduction of dichotomy and discriminating policies between Students of Public and Private Schools in the State.
It further stressed that it found no moral justification whatsoever for this practice.
“If testing for COVID-19 must be done for any category of students, it should be free for all students irrespective of whether they are in Public or Private Schools” the release stated
The Labour body therefore call on the Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun to immediately step-in-to the matter and direct immediate reversal of the directive, adding that no student in the State is discriminated against on the basis of attending private school.
“We also call on government to be alive to its responsibilities by ensuring adequate provision of necessary tools, equipments and other consumables for safe re-opening of schools, this call becomes imperative to maintain and promote the existing industrial peace and harmony in the State” it concludes
