Jonathan Insists On September 22nd Resumption Date for Schools In The Country

To avoid the impending industrial action by the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) concerning Federal Government’s decision to re-open primary and secondary schools in the country following the successful containment of the spread of the dreaded Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), the President has appealed to the nation’s teachers to see the reason behind the decision.
You will recall the reaction to by stakeholders when the Minister of Education over a week ago announced the new date for school resumption in the country. While some stakeholders particularly the Association of Private School owners in the country welcomed the news, others like members of the NUT insist on the postponement of the decision to open schools stating that the country is still not out of the woods yet concerning the spread of EVD.

The Union intended to go ahead with the industrial action if the government refuses to postpone the resumption date. The National President of the Union, Michael Olukoya argued that the government has not supplied to schools around the country the necessary equipment to deal with suspected EVD cases in the schools and also that it is only few states that have trained their teachers to handle or cope with suspected EVD cases. The necessary tools demanded by the Union of Teachers were: Infra-red thermometers, sanitizers, portable running water and gloves.

Reacting to this decision, the President yesterday when briefing newsmen appealed to Teachers to shield their swords and return to the classrooms, he said that the country through the efforts of everyone has been able to contain the spread of the dreaded disease and there are no new cases of infection in the 36 states of the Federal.

The President stated further that continued closure of the nation’s schools sends the wrong signal to the global community. He stated that foreign investors will be reluctant in visiting Nigeria if the Government cannot provide justifiable assurances that all is well within the country.



Our Oga at the Top used the opportunity to thank Nigerians and all the Governors (as if they are not Nigerians) for their efforts in the fight against the dreaded Ebola Virus Disease. It is rather a shame that we all cannot come together to battle other pending societal issues like poverty (yes it is an issue), unemployment, absence of social amenities (very kokoish) and the dreaded BH insurgents.

I just hope that this is the last we will hear about the Nation’s teachers going to war with the Nigerian Government about school resumption.