House of Reps Take Decision On January 18 Schools Resumption Date

House of Reps has taken a decision on January 18 schools resumption date.

NewsOne Nigeria reports that the House of Representatives has faulted the President Muhammadu Buhari led Federal Government for giving schools the go-ahead to resume on Monday despite the increasing cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

This online news platform understands that the House stressed that the federal government officials did not consult the relevant committees of the National Assembly, contrary to their claim that all relevant stakeholders were consulted before arriving at the January 18, 2021, resumption date.

The House, therefore, demanded postponement of resumption for three months, where necessary safety measures weren’t put in place and compliance with protocols low.

Prof Julius Ihonvbere, the Chairman of the House Committee on Basic Education and Services, disclosed these in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Saturday.

“They did not consult us; at least in my committee, nobody from the ministry spoke to me. I have been in Abuja. And I am not sure that they spoke to any of my members. They just don’t see us as part of the critical stakeholders,” he said.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Basic Education and Services in a statement he issued in Abuja on Saturday, on behalf of his committee, opposed the Monday resumption date.

In the statement titled “School resumption: Are we truly prepared?” The House said: “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?”