Hours after various events marked the Children’s Day, pupils demand a better life for all, writes FOLASHADE ADEBAYO
Onyinye Chinwokwu, a Senior Secondary School Pupil 2 of the Babington
Macaulay Junior Seminary, Ikorodu, Lagos, understands the power of change. As the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, is sworn into office today, Chinwokwu has made a list of issues she wants him to confront.
“He has promised change and we all want a positive change. I want him to bring back the Chibok girls and provide better security. He should also improve the education sector. Some teachers cannot speak correct English. Buhari should do something about it,’’ she said.
Benita Ishelowo, a Junior Secondary School 1 pupil of Greenland Hall School, Agbado, Ogun State did not have a first-hand experience of the state of the nation when Muhammadu Buhari held sway as the Head of State. But the 10-year old knows that he would be sworn in on Friday (today) as President.
The young Nigerian, like many others, have high expectations of Buhari. Speaking to our correspondent on Thursday, she urged him to tackle the high unemployment rate and dilapidated infrastructure.
“I want him to make the industries work so that more people can be employed. I also heard that some hospitals do not have qualified doctors and drugs so I want the new President to ensure proper health care for Nigerians. Our roads are very bad and they cause many accidents so I want him to fix the roads,’’ she said.
Ishelowo is not alone. A pupil of Masterpiece Schools, Akera, Ogun State, Feyikemi Adebayo, said she was tired of the incessant power outage in the country. While celebrating Children’s Day with friends at an amusement park in Lagos, the eight-year-old urged Buhari to provide constant electricity and toys.
“I want him to stop power outages and make all toys free for children. That is all I want from him,’’ she said.
The lass might be right on the abysmal level of power generation in the country. According to the outgoing Ministry of Power, power generation stood at 1,327megawatts penultimate Friday. Eighteen out of 23 power plants in the country were also said to be unable to generate electricity as a result of shortage of gas to thermal plants.
Meanwhile, a JSS1 pupil of Chrismeon International College, Abule Egba, Lagos, Peace Folarin, who rightly described the new president as a former military officer, asked Buhari to deliver on his campaign promises and make Nigerians happy. She also canvassed free education for all.
“My mummy said he was a military man but I want him to do better this time around. I want him to make Nigerians proud of him by creating employment opportunities for unemployed youths. I think education should be free for all citizens and I believe it is not impossible,’’ she said.
While unemployment, power and education are critical issues to Folarin and Ishelowo, unpaid workers’ salaries are more pressing issues for pupils in Osogbo, Osun State. A Senior Secondary School 3 pupil of Royal Comprehensive College, Alekuwodo, Tolu Akintunde, wantsBuhari to compel Governor Rauf Aregbesola to pay the salary arrears owed his mum who is a civil servant in the state.
“The first thing I want him to do is to pay workers’ salaries. My mother has not been paid salary in the last six months and we her children are affected. There are other things I will like him to do but this salary issue is the biggest. Let him do that first,’’ he said.
While the pupils expressed various expectations from Buhari, the Nigerian Union of Teachers has also advised parents and other stakeholders in the sector to support the new administration.
The NUT president, Mr. Michael Alogba-Olukoya, who spoke with our correspondent on Thursday, advised the new president to review the concept of free education.
“We have to modify our free education policy in order to enhance the quality of public education. I will also urge the new government to tilt towards making technical-oriented education policies. He also needs to increase budgetary allocation for the education sector but that is not enough. We should ask questions after giving ministers money. Buhari should endeavour to create a budget tracking committee,’’ he said.
Similarly, a Head Teacher in a private school in Ogun State, who did not want to be identified, urged Buhari to tackle corruption in the oil and gas sector. The educationist said the fuel scarcity experienced in the country had taken a toll on her school’s finances.
According to her, the school bus did not convey any pupil to school on Monday and Tuesday. She said the school had been groaning under the weight of the high cost of petrol motor spirit in the last four weeks.
“This is an opportunity for Buhari and the All Progressives Congress to stamp themselves in the heart of Nigerians. Granted that expectations are high, they really have no choice but to deliver on their campaign promises. Buhari needs to deal with whatever cabal is holding the nation to ransom in the oil and gas sector.
“We had to stop our transport services temporarily. But surprisingly only three pupils did not show up and they were pupils who live very far away from the school. We also wrote the parents to keep the pupils at home till Monday. We are hopeful that the scarcity would have ended by then,’’ she said.
Photo Credit: FOLASHADE ADEBAYO
Source: PUNCH
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