Falana Threatens to Sue FG over schools Holiday Extension

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/01/falana-threatens-to-sue-fg-over-schools-holiday-extension/

LAGOS—RADICAL Lagos Lawyer and activist, Mr. Femi Falana, weekend, threatened to drag the Federal Government to court to challenge the one month extension of holiday for public and private primary and secondary schools in the country to enable Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, conduct a fresh voters’ registeration exercise.

Falana, who spoke at a symposium organised by Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, to mark the 70th birthday of Alhaji Hassan Sunmonu, founding President of NLC,  urged government to withdraw the circular by Friday or he would drag it to court.

Mr. Falana said it was illegal for government to extend the holiday, adding that the directive was an indication that government valued elections more than education which is the bedrock of development.

He said: “Is this the first time we are doing voters’ registration in Nigeria? Why is government then forcing students to remain at home because of registration?” Where has the ministry got the power to keep students at home at forced holiday for no justified reasons.

WAEC and NECO have recorded more than 80 percent failure rate in recent time, is this the way we are going to improve education in the country. When workers go on strike for welfare reasons, the government declares it illegal  now they want to keep pupils at home because of voters registration. If government does not withdraw that circular today, we will be heading to court next week.”

Also speaking at the event, Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola blamed government for allowing registration to drag so long to the extent that it is coinciding with resumption of schools in the country.

He faulted the decision of government,  adding that there was no due consultations with stakeholders before making such pronouncement and said registration which ought to have been done earlier is been rushed nd the process coincide with resumption of schools in the  country.

He said: “The most important aspect of the election process is the registration of voters. There is need for us to be properly registered if we are indeed expectant of any credible election, we must ensure the credibility in voters’ registration.

If we want a free and fair election, we must ensure that the voters’ registration is not inflated by politicians for selfish reasons, ”

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