Patience Leonard, PBA Journalism MenteeLabour Party’s presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi has reacted to closure of some Federal Government Colleges in the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, Nigeria.
Obi in a statement on his verified Twitter handle, stated that the proposed closure is not just worrisome but depressing.
He opined that the affected students, and the ones in tertiary institutions affected by ASUU strike, added to 18.5 million out-of-school children in the country, would slow down the country’s journey to development.
The Labour Party’s presidential flag bearer who said he’s a firm believer in the transformative power of education, listed the faults in the system to include insecurity, avoidable industrial action by labour unions and poor funding.
He said, “While I understand this decision by the government as a measure of keeping our students safe, I reiterate that insecurity can be fought permanently by lifting people out of poverty, through support for small businesses and the creation of jobs, adequately employing more training and equipping our security personnel.”
He enjoined the government to be proactive in its actions of protecting the lives of citizens.
“I urge the government to do all within its power to arrest the high level of insecurity in the nation, to enable our students safely return to schools, and for our nation to return to the part of progress,” Obi added.
Recall that the Nigerian Government through the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu on Monday, ordered the closure of Federal Government College, Kwali in Abuja.
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The directive for the closure of FGC Kwali was due to security breach in Sheda and Lambata villages, and suburbs of Kwali Area Council which according to the Minister, posed a threat to the school.
Adamu who said the measure was to forestall any form of attack on the students, stated that security arrangements would be made for final year students to complete their NECO (National Examination Council) examinations.
He also urged all principals of unity schools across the country to liase with security agencies to boost security in their respective schools.
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