SSS 3 Students: NLC Blasts Governor Abiodun Over Outrageous N25k COVID-19 Test Fee
By ABIODUN JIMOH, ABEOKUTA
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has described that the action of Ogun State government directing Senior Secondary Schools three (SSS 3) boarding students in private secondary schools to undergo a compulsory COVID-19 test at the cost of N25,000.00, as being insensitive to the plight of its citizenry.
The NLC, shocked by the government action revealed this in a statement jointly signed by Comrade Emmanuel Abinbola Bankole, State Chairman, and Comrade Olatunji Ayuba, Ag. State Secretary on Wednesday in Abeokuta.
The Congress remarked that the government action portrayed her insensitive to the plight of its citizenry, especially when compare that with what is done in other clime, where their governments introduced many palliative measures and even cash grant to families, to cushion the effect of the pandemic.
The statement read: “The attention of Nigeria Labour Congress has been drawn to the directive by Ogun State Government directing SSS3 boarding students in private secondary schools in the state to undergo a compulsory COVID-19 test at the cost of N25,000.00, while government bears the cost of students in public secondary schools.
“The Congress is shocked, that the state government can contemplate any measure or policy that will further add to the burden of the citizenry and parents in this instance, bearing in mind the socio-economic which Nigerians are grappling with as a result of COVID-19 pandemic.
“The action of government portrayed her as being insensitive to the plight of its citizenry, especially when we compare that with what is done in other clime, where their governments introduced many palliative measures and even cash grant to families, to cushion the effect of the pandemic.
“We therefore condemn in strong terms, introduction of dichotomy and discriminating policies between students of public and private schools in the state, as we found no moral justification whatsoever for this practice.
“If testing for COVID-19 must be done for any category of students, it should be free for all students irrespective of whether they are in public or private schools.
“We hereby call on His Excellency, the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun MFR to immediately step-in-to the matter and direct immediate reversal of this directive, and ensure that no student in the state is discriminated against on the basis of attending private school.
“We also call on government to be alive to its responsibilities by ensuring adequate provision of necessary tools, equipments and other consumables for safe reopening of schools, this call becomes imperative to maintain and promote the existing industrial peace and harmony in the state.”
