Gov. Fayemi To Set Up Committee For School Resumption in Ekiti
Plans Gradual Reopening Of Schools
Threatens To Return To Lockdown if Residents Fail to Observe Covid-19 Measures
The Ekiti State Government on Tuesday said the state Government was not ready to reopen schools until there was convincing evidence that pupils and their teachers would be safe.
According to a statement by the Commissioner for Information in Ado Ekiti, Mr Muyiwa Olumilua, while giving an update on the COVID-19 pandemic situation in the state, he stated that the Government was no longer comfortable with the lackadaisical manner that residents had been conducting themselves since it relaxed the lockdown a couple of weeks ago.
The seemingly disappointed Commissioner threatened a reverse to total lockdown in the state except residents change their attitude and adhere strictly to stipulated measures by the government in curtailing the COVID-19 Pandemic.
“The state government will have no option than to return to lockdown season if the current recalcitrant attitude of not obeying interstate ban, social and physical distancing, mandatory use of face masks and hand sanitisers as well as other protocol persisted.
“It is not as if the governor is interested in inflicting hardship on Ekiti people.
“That was why he reopened economic activities between Mondays and Fridays to enable people pursue their means of livelihood.
“But should our people refuse to abide by the protocols as they are currently doing, we will be left with no other option than to return lockdown to avert community spread,” the commissioner warned.
Meanwhile, Mr Olumilua further added that Gov. Fayemi is pondering setting up a committee comprises government officials, parents Teachers’ Association and proprietors of schools that would develop ideas and give recommendations that could facilitate easy and convenient return of students to schools.
“We are not in a hurry to reopen schools because we know that we have to provide all necessary facilities like running water, hand sanitisers and infrared thermometers in all schools in order not to endanger the lives of our pupils.
The committee will soon begin work and their recommendations will be implemented to help in this regard,” Olumilua concluded.
As the Ekiti State Government continue to put in effort to ensure residents obey a measures set aside to curtail the COVID-19 Pandemic, the state is currently having 29 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 18 recoveries and 2 deaths.
