NLC react to the #25,000 Covid–19 test

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 Twenty-Five Thousand  (#25,000.00) Naira 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 this with what is done in other climes, 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, the 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 the government to be alive to its responsibilities by ensuring adequate provision of necessary tools, equipments and other consumables for safe re-opening of schools, this call becomes imperative to maintain and promote the existing industrial peace and harmony in the State.