Academic Staff Union of Universities, on Monday, opposed the reopening of schools by the Federal Government amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
It argued that the government must make resources available to schools to enable them to meet the proposed conditions by the Federal Ministry of Education.
Schools all over the country were closed down in March to check the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
ASUU National President, Prof Biodun Ogunyemi, appealed to the government to provide the ideal environment and meet the conditions spelt out by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control before reopening schools across the country.
According to him, “The Federal Government must lead and show the ways by meeting the conditions for reopening of schools before any school can be allowed to open because COVID-19 pandemic is a health challenge.
“When it comes to public health, it is something that should not be left in the hands of individuals but the Federal Government must take the lead.”
Ogunyemi listed the conditions spelt out by NCDC to include the provision of materials for regular hand washing, provision of face masks, isolations spaces, hands sanitisers, among others.
The ASUU president said many government-owned schools lacked the financial capacity to meet the set conditions.
“It is suicidal to reopen schools now if the Federal Government itself could not meet the conditions spelt out by the NCDC and the World Health Organisation. The nation will expose innocent children to avoidable risks,” he said.