The Academic Staff Of Universities (ASSU) has cautioned the federal government against re-opening the nation’s schools.

The nation’s learning spaces have been shut since March as one in a raft of measures to curb the spread of novel coronavirus disease (COVID 19) In the face of the rising number of infection, amid gradual easing of lockdown measures by state and federal governments,

Minister of state for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba announced last week that a presentation has been made to the national assembly on the prospond dates for reopening of schools across country.

However national president of ASUU, Prof Biodun Ogunyemi, told the news Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ota, Ogun State, that Schools should remain under lock and key until the federal government leads the way in implemetating safety measures and health guidelines across the country.

The federal government must lead and show the way by meeting the conditions for reopening of schools before any school can be allowed to open because COVID 19 pandemic is health challenge Ogunyemi said.

When it comes to public health, it is something that should not be left in the hand of individuals but the federal government must take the lead”

The ASUU president listened the conditions spelt out by NCDC (Nigeria Center for Disease Control) to include the provision of materials for

1: regular hand-washing,

2: provision of face masks,

3: isolation spaces,

4: hand sanitizer, among others.

He said many government owned schools don’t have fund’s to meet the outlined conditions.

It is suicidal to reopen schools now if the federal government itself cannot meet the conditions spelt out by the NCDC and the world health organization.

The nation will expose innocent children to avoidable risk” he added news source pulse