By Callistus Agwaza in Jalingo
The National Council of Women Societies (NCWS) has said that the recent building collapse, which claimed the lives of 22 students at Saints Academy in Jos, Plateau state, should serve as a wakeup call on all relevant authorities to live up to their responsibilities to avoid future recurrences.
On Friday, a two-storey classrooms collapsed in the school, located at Busa Buji area of Jos, killing 22 students while 132 others were injured.
The NCWS, in a statement on Sunday by its acting National President, Geraldine Etuk, called for urgent and stringent measures to be adopted to assess the condition of school buildings across our country.
She urged governments at all levels to take immediate and decisive action to prevent such tragic occurrences in the future.
The statement commisserated with the families of those who died in the unfortunate incident and prayed for the speedy recovery of those who sustained injuries.
Etuk said, “The safety and well-being of our children is paramount, and this tragedy underscores the urgent need for stringent measures to address the condition of school buildings across the nation.
“We therefore call on governments at all levels to take immediate and decisive action to prevent such heart-wrenching occurrences in the future.
“We therefore call on the government to urgently initiate thorough inspections of all school buildings, especially those in dilapidated conditions, to identify and address structural weaknesses and ensure regular maintenance checks”.
The NCWS acting President further called for “Strict enforcement of building codes and safety standards for all educational institutions”, adding that those who fail to comply with highest safety standards should be sanctioned accordingly.
The statement also called for “Involvement of local communities in the decision-making process relating to school infrastructure development..”
The NCWS urged relevant authorities to develop comprehensive emergency response plans for schools to swiftly address any potential hazards to ensure the safety of pupils and staff.
