Disturbed by the directive issued by the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) that its members should not resume on September 22, President Goodluck Jonathan has appealed to them to shelve the planned industrial action.
Addressing newsmen after the emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, President of NUT, Comrade Michael Olukoya, insisted the teachers will not resume until when Nigeria is certified Ebola-free and the safety of the students and staff could be guaranteed.
But, speaking with State House Correspondents shortly after the NUT gave the directive, President Jonathan posited there was no reason why the students should not resume on the set date.
But, speaking with State House Correspondents shortly after the NUT gave the directive, President Jonathan posited there was no reason why the students should not resume on the set date.
He contended that the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) has been contained to a reasonable extent, noting that there is no confirmed Ebola case in the country at the moment.
President Jonathan therefore, enjoined all stakeholders including the NUT not to shut down critical institutions because of Ebola.
The President reminded them that doing that could send wrong signal to the international community and make some countries begin to stigmatize Nigerians who enter their countries.
His words, “Presently, there is no case of Ebola in Nigeria. All the people that had the symptoms of Ebola have recovered, out of 19 we lost seven and the others have recovered.
His words, “Presently, there is no case of Ebola in Nigeria. All the people that had the symptoms of Ebola have recovered, out of 19 we lost seven and the others have recovered.
Yes, there are few people we are observing. That is not to say we may not record Ebola again as long as Ebola is still in the West Coast, it is there in Guinea Conakry, it is there in Liberia, it is there in Sierra Leone.
“The likelihood that a character like the Late Sawyer can come in one way or the other is also open. But government is also very mindful of that.
“Presently, our airports are properly protected if Sawyer were to arrive Nigeria now, no Nigerian would have contracted Ebola because of the level of preparation.
“You see one thing people don’t know is this … if you are in Nigerian today and you travel to some countries they don’t even want you to enter their countries.
“You see one thing people don’t know is this … if you are in Nigerian today and you travel to some countries they don’t even want you to enter their countries.
“Our athletes were segregated in China; they had to return to the country. A country like China asked Ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to show their Ebola – free certificate.
“And what people don’t know is that as long as you close your institutions because of Ebola, the Ambassadors and High Commissioners that are here with us send what you call dispatches to their home states about what is happening in our country monthly.
“As long as we Nigerians close all our public institutions because of Ebola, the dispatches that go to the whole world is that Ebola is a problem in Nigeria.
“As long as we Nigerians close all our public institutions because of Ebola, the dispatches that go to the whole world is that Ebola is a problem in Nigeria.
“And as long as we declare that Ebola is a problem in Nigeria, any Nigerian that travels out will be treated as someone that has Ebola.
“We have been able to manage Ebola and the whole world is happy with us and we must tell the whole world that we have managed Ebola and no Nigerian should be segregated because of Ebola,” the President stated.
Back to the teachers, the president said, “I will plead with NUT and other unions that this does not require industrial action.
Back to the teachers, the president said, “I will plead with NUT and other unions that this does not require industrial action.
“They should commend government, they worked with us, they are Nigerians. All Nigerians must work together to make sure that we contain Ebola. Why do we want to create problems while it is not necessary, it is uncalled for.?
According to President Jonathan, there was suggestion that he should cancel the recently held Osun Osogbo festival because of Ebola but he had said, “No, Ebola is no longer a threat in Nigeria and we must tell the world that we have been able to contain Ebola.
“I use this opportunity to thank all the governors because I met with all the governors and all the commissioners for health and all the states set up machineries to manage Ebola.
“I have to specifically appreciate the governors of Lagos and Rivers States that had incidence of Ebola for working with the federal government to manage the situation,” he said.
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