Business
Reps oppose school resumption date, ask for 3 months extension
The lower legislative chamber has flawed FG’s directive on public and private schools’ January 18, 2021 resumption date.
The House of Representatives has moved against the Federal Government’s directive that schools should resume on Monday, January 18, despite the rising cases of the coronavirus disease.
The lower house, while expressing its concern, wondered why schools were closed when the infection rates were around 500 and below, but now that it hovers well above 1000 infections daily, schools are being reopened.
READ: 45% of school-aged household members have not been to school since March
This disclosure is contained in a statement titled, “School Resumption: Are We Truly Prepared?” which was issued by the Chairman, House Committee on Basic Education and Services, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, on Saturday, January 16, 2021.
Ihonvbere in his statement said that public enlightenment campaigns have more or less stopped, as merely saying that protocol would be adhered to is no guarantee with the situation even being worse in rural areas.
READ: FG will do everything to prevent a recurrence of school abductions – Lai Mohammed
The house, therefore, demanded for the postponement of resumption of schools by 3 months, if some critical steps are not taken, so as to enable the local and state governments put things in place adequately.
He said that apart from Lagos and a couple of other states, governments have been unable to enforce Covid-19 protocols with people no longer wearing facemasks or use sanitisers, especially in secondary schools. There are no facilities for effective social distancing in the classrooms.
READ: Lagos State confirms COVID-19 cases in secondary school
Ihonvbere said they have not heard how the schools would address the issues of introduction of morning and afternoon batches into the schools when they reopen to reduce overcrowding, special cleaning crews with sufficient sanitisers in classrooms, insisting on facemasks and sanitisers for the students and others.
READ: Covid-19: Restrictions cost Lagos MSMEs N2.7 billion – LCCI
What Prof. Ihonvbere is saying
The statement from the House partly reads,
- “The Committee on Basic Education and Services, House of Representatives, has received with concern the decision of the Federal Government to reopen schools on January 18, 2021.
- “We are particularly concerned that when the infection rates hovered around 500 and under, schools were closed; but now that it hovers well above 1,000 infections daily, schools are being reopened. Why are we rushing to reopen schools without adequate verifiable and sustainable arrangements to protect and secure our children?
- “Similarly, we acknowledge the argument that most young persons have not been as affected by Covid-19 and many are asymptomatic. Yet, it does not mean they have full immunity against the virus. We also know that they would be working and interacting with adult teachers, administrative workers and other persons that do not live within the institutions.
- ‘’People no longer wear facemasks or use sanitisers. Public enlightenment campaigns have more or less stopped. Merely saying they would adhere to the protocols is no guarantee. In rural areas, the situation is worse.
- “Our position is that in spite of the very comprehensive protocols established by the Federal Ministry of Education, not up to 10 per cent of our educational institutions have implemented five per cent of the protocols. In most of our primary and secondary schools nationwide, adequate furniture, water and other sanitation and hygiene facilities do not exist.
- “As a government that has committed to protecting the interests of the Nigerian people, it would be wrong to allow unprepared state governments, of which many did not take the pandemic too seriously anyway, to hoodwink or pressure it into this reopening game.
- “The Committee believes that if these and other critical steps are not taken, there should be a postponement by three months to enable the local and state governments put things in place adequately. A word, they say, is enough for the wise.’’
READ: Nigeria has a shortage of 277,537 teachers in basic education sector – UBEC
What you should know
- The Presidential Task Force (PTF) on Covid-19, a few days ago, insisted on the January 18 resumption date for schools until the Federal Ministry of Education advises otherwise.
- The clarification became necessary following the earlier comment by the Minister for Education, Adamu Adamu, that government may review the resumption date following the outbreak of the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic across the country.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES COMMITTEE ON BASIC EDUCATION AND SERVICES, ABUJA.
SCHOOL RESUMPTION: ARE WE TRULY PREPARED?The Committee on Basic Education and Services, House of Representatives has received with some concern the decision of the Federal Government to reopen schools pic.twitter.com/wehOd7QoXG
— Hon. Prof. Julius Ihonvbere,OON (@HonIhonvbere) January 16, 2021
Business
Lagos, Chinese firm to rollout 1,000 SUVs as taxis, to complete auto assembly plant in 12 months
Lagos State Government has signed an agreement with a Chinese firm to roll-out 1,000 SUVs as taxis for Lagos residents.
Lagos State Government has signed an agreement with a Chinese firm, Choice International Group (CIG) Motors Co. Ltd. on Thursday for the roll-out of 1,000 Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) as taxis for Lagos residents.
The signing and flag-off ceremony which was held at the Lagos House, Marina also included the signing of an agreement for the establishment of a Motor Assembly Plant in Lagos State, with the Governor saying that the roll-out of vehicles from the plant is expected within the next 12 to 18 months.
Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said that the Lagos State Taxi Scheme was another innovative policy of his administration targeted at making life easier for Lagosians, improving mobility and creating a seamless multi-modal transport system.
Sanwo-Olu said that the scheme would create jobs, accelerate socio-economic growth, and further put the state on the global map as the centre of excellence and a modern megacity committed to sustainable development.
What Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is saying
Sanwo-Olu pointed out that the task of bequeathing a safe, efficient, quick, and modern public transport system is a key thrust of the administration’s T.H.E.M.E.S. Agenda.
He said, ”We are guided by the need for an equitable transport system with mobility choices for our people. The Taxi Scheme, to be known as ”Lagos Ride”, which is being inaugurated today is in fulfilment of our desire to give Lagosians transport choices.
”It is one of the Lagos State Government’s socio-economic intervention programmes- a modern ride-hailing service that will be professionally managed in line with global best practices. Under the Lagos State Taxi Service, drivers/operators will be given the cars for a period of four years during which they pay a monthly instalment and they will have the opportunity of owning the cars after they have fully paid the hire amount.
”The Lagos State Taxi Service is structured along a profitability model, it is self-sustaining and able to expand and regenerate itself,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu said that the establishment of the Motor Assembly Plant was expected to revive industrialisation, increase citizens’ employment and wealth creation, boost tourism, and encourage technology sharing, adaptation, and advancement.
He said, ”As we inaugurate the taxis and sign the Joint Venture Agreement for the establishment of the Motor Assembly Plant, Lagosians should expect a roll-out of vehicles from this plant within the next 12 to 18 months.
”I urge the beneficiaries of the Lagos State Taxi Service to collaborate with us to sustain the scheme.We have the political and administrative will to ensure the Taxi Scheme survives.
”I am hopeful that the operators will cooperate with the Lagos State Government to render excellent service to the people,” he said.
The Group Chairman, CIG Motors, Diana Chen, said that they hope to celebrate this exciting moment again when 1,000 units of branded SUVs with high-tech technology arrive and run across Lagos streets and roads, with 1,000 well-trained drivers carrying happy customers that live and work in Lagos.
What this means
- This collaboration by the Lagos State Government with the Chinese auto firm is one of the ways of the government to get private sector participation in a modern transport system within the metropolis’
- The establishment of the Assembly Plant and the Lagos Taxi Scheme were among the benefits of Governor Sanwo-Olu’s official trip to China.
- This is a welcome development as it will help to change the face of public transportation in the state.
Business
FG announces extension of work-from-home directive for GL 12 officers, below
FG has extended the work-from-home directive for civil servants from GL 12 and below until the end of March.
uchi cyril
January 17, 2021 at 8:06 pm
this is not welcoming at all
we don’t want there concern about school resumption or how we going to cope with the infection or so call virus on campus 😭we are tired staying at home😭or dont there want us to school to go to school any more😭
Anonymous
January 18, 2021 at 4:43 pm
Englash
Oduwa
January 17, 2021 at 8:50 pm
I hate Nigeria
Bawa
January 17, 2021 at 9:08 pm
Schools should not open
Mai nassara kandy
January 17, 2021 at 9:17 pm
The Nigeria youth pleade with government to reopen schools across the country we will adhere to all covid 19 protocol if not the illiteracy will be increasing, also the youth will involved them self in legal attitude such as armed robbery, kidnapping, bcus there is inadequate social infrastructure to enable youth live in peace and move forward pls we are tired of staying at home 🏠 🏠 we. Are tired of staying at home 🏠 🙏🙏🙏
Best William
January 17, 2021 at 9:20 pm
The God we serve will not forgive them, my question is what is the population of the country now over 200million people? What is daily average of the disease is about 1000 daily, What ratio is to our population, We know that majority of them are against western education, The God will save us from them Amen
Chuks
January 17, 2021 at 10:10 pm
Reopening of schools is what they will oppose.Have they opposed the NIMC offices that are overcrowded daily as a result of the FG directive?
Anonymous
January 17, 2021 at 10:35 pm
Evening Nigerians
, I want to hear from those who are insisting that schools should not be reopen because of Corona virus,can it only affect students in schools without affecting them while interacting with thousands of mats,sicks criminals etc.at different market premises.The population at markets and that of schools,which one is more accessible to Corona virus?
Ekong Ebienang
January 17, 2021 at 10:52 pm
Shutting down schools is counter productive. Online education, novel as it is, is not very effective in teachinng the children. So government should not shy away of her responsibility of enforcing the covid protocol. It is sad that those at the helm of affairs at content to just mimic the approach of western countries in the way covid 19 is tackled. If our leaders are ready to think outside the box, there would be no need to shut down schools. Same argument would suffice in shutti g down the country too. The last exercise was injurious to our overall economy.
Oluwatobiloba
January 17, 2021 at 11:17 pm
Why government trying to put some of the Nigerian in darkness.
Umar sulaiman
January 18, 2021 at 12:18 am
I don’t agree with that corona virus if the leaders of Nigeria there are going to leave the student to study leave them but I know there is not any covid in Nigeria
manager
January 18, 2021 at 1:08 am
Drunken legislature’s talking Nonsense.
Alex Adegoke
January 18, 2021 at 3:50 am
This members of house of reps are not Nigerians because they don’t even know what is happening in Nigeria
Mr Bello
January 18, 2021 at 5:32 am
Expectedly, you should talk from the point of knowledge by justifying what you said with facts and figures. The school children that remained at home and mingling with everyone else in the society couldn’t catch the virus but, you are now saying they would get infected at school? If you want to stop the masses children from attending schools, then please return all the elites children schooling abroad.
This insensitivity to the the people’s plight must stop. If the Members of the NA have nothing to offer at this time, but to stop our children from going back to school after what we passed through, please let them keep quiet. Enough to all these unpopular policies.
Raphael
January 18, 2021 at 6:47 am
What is the problem with this people do they want us to remain here and get old?
Idris
January 18, 2021 at 7:22 am
Nigerian leaders are a total shit, they show zero care for education within the country, they’ll always bring an excuse because they don’t want Schools to resume, and one more sparkling thing is that, is it only in the university that coronavirus is being spread, what of markets, and other public places, I’m advising u people should please stop playing with the Nigerian youth future because they are the leaders of tomorrow, don’t u know that staying at home doing nothing is one of the major thing that made some of the youth to steal, armed robbery, kidnapping and something related to that
Anonymous
January 18, 2021 at 7:46 am
Are you thinking of shutdown the school for next three months this is bared madness all of you are out of sense
Rahman Toyin
January 18, 2021 at 8:23 am
When they said schools should not reopen, whàt of market places that have gone back to their normal daily activities? Between schools and market places which ones are controllable, they should rather be concerned about other important and critical issues, don’t they want progress for our education? When some of their children schooling abroad continue with their learning without disturbance with technical advancement. They schools here to stop, so that many children will turn to thugs, arm robbers and aristo.that can’t be possible abeg. Look out for other pressing issues in the country to iron out don’t interrupt our education system again.