Protest: Osun directs schools to proceed on third term break July 31

The Osun state government has directed private and public schools in the state to proceed on third term vacation on July 31 due to the planned nationwide protest.

In a statement on Tuesday, Muritala Jimoh, permanent secretary in the ministry of education, said the directive is due to the nationwide demonstrations slated to commence on August 1.

“This is to inform the general public, particularly parents, guardians and heads of both public and private schools in the state that due to the planned nationwide protests, all schools are directed to proceed on the third term vacation from Wednesday, July 31,” the statement reads.

“Parents and Guardians are advised to ensure the safety of their wards during the vacation.”

State governors and President Bola Tinubu have repeatedly appealed to youths to shelve the August 1-10 demonstrations.

Law enforcement agencies have also warned that the protests could be hijacked by hoodlums and “unscrupulous agents”.

On Monday, some youths in Niger State took to the streets with placards bearing anti-government inscriptions.

Protesters marched through the Abuja-Kaduna expressway in Suleja LGA of the state, chanting ‘Fuel subsidy must be back’, ‘Enough is enough’, ‘Stop anti-masses policies’, ‘We are not slaves in our country’, and ‘Hardship is unbearable’.

Ajuri Ngelale, special adviser to Tinubu on media and publicity, has said no government official has the authority to deny Nigerians their right to peaceful protests.

“Let me put it on record that we have heard certain utterances from some members of even our own administration, and indeed from some subnational entities in the country, suggesting that Nigerians do not have the right to protest and that they would be stopped from protesting,” Ngelale said.

“I want to be very clear this evening in front of the nation in saying that there is nobody within our administration that has the standing, the command, or the gravitas to tell any Nigerian citizen that they cannot peacefully protest in any part of this country.”