President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Professor Biodun Ogunyemi on Thursday asked the federal and state governments in the country to back the lockdown order with provision of everyday essential for Nigerians.
According to the ASUU President, unless everyday needs of the people were made available, “the emerging lockdown of the country may not achieve its desired result of promoting “self-isolation” and “social distancing”
Professor Ogunyemi in a press release entitled “COVID-19: Together We Shall Win”, made available to newsmen in Ibadan stated that there must be reasonable supply of electricity, water and unbroken chain of food items if the lock down is to be effective .
The ASUU President cautioned, “unless the needs of people are made available, the federal and state government may face rebellion from people which will be counter productive.
“Access to electricity and running water and an unbroken chain of food supply and availability of other essential items should be key components of the policy called “lockdown.
“Unless the people’s survival needs are factored into the equation, governments at the national and sub-national levels may be courting an uncontrollable regime of rebellion which may be counterproductive to the cause of fighting the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria.”
The ASUU President maintained that the Union’s intervention in distributing sanitisers, and other sensitisation material to check the spread of COVID-19 had taken place at the University of Ibadan and University of Jos, and that such endeavour would continue in their chapters nationwide.
