Assembly encourages Oyo State Government to strengthen security around public schools

The Oyo State House of Assembly has asked the state’s executive branch to expedite efforts to improve school security.

On Tuesday in Ibadan, the legislative body stated that urgent measures must be taken to strengthen security around the state’s public primary and secondary schools.

It urged the government and all education partners to take a proactive approach in light of recent reports of attacks and instability throughout the country.

”Public schools in the state have for many years operated without adequate security, leading to reports of kidnapping, rape, vandalism, and theft of government property,” Hon. Dawood Olalere (PDP/Ibadan North West) noted during plenary while deliberating on a motion he brought before the House.

“Such measures will guarantee safety and secure access to education and further build confidence of parents and guardians to send their children and wards to public schools.

“The House takes cognisance of the importance of protecting public schools from insurgent attacks in the form of kidnapping, rape, vandalism and theft.

“To this end, we urge the executive arm of government to put measures in place to beef up security in public schools to promote safe and secured access to education in the state.”

Contributing on the matter, Hon. Gabriel Babajide (PDP/Ibadan North I) observed that many schools were in a dilapidated condition.

“There is the need to, through the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, sensitise stakeholders to making public schools safer and more conducive.”

Other lawmakers in their separate submissions, noted that the motion was not only timely, but also expedient for immediate action to safeguard public schools in the state.

Hon. Gbenga Oyekola (PDP/Atiba) told newsmen shortly after that the motion was expected to be given expedited consideration by the state government through the concerned ministries for urgent action.

“The issue of insecurity is more than what we’re discussing here in this hallowed chamber.

“It is good to take care of furniture, roofs and facilities, but the most important thing I want to emphasise is that there can not be school without students,” Oyekola added.