By CHARLES IWUOHA

The Save-Public-Education-Campaign Nigeria, said appropriate sanction, including jail term should place on individuals, developers, public officials who engage in compromising laid-down standard and regulations in building construction for illicit gains.

The group expressed deep shock and sadness at the tragic incident of the collapsed of a two storey School building on Friday the 12 of October, in Jos Plateau State.

The School, All Saints Academy, Busa-Buji in Jos Metropolis, had hundreds of Students who were sitting for their Examination when the building caved-in trapping the students and resulting in the deaths of over 22 young students so far with many more wounded.

This is contained in a statement issued on Saturday by the group’s coordinator, Comrade Vivian Bello.

“This is Monumental disaster more especially in view of the category of persons involved, (young under-aged school children), and intrinsically to consider that this tragic incident and the invaluable innocent lives it has taken, was very avoidable in the first place.

“We at the Save-Public-Education-Campaign, have severally reiterated the need for governments at all levels in Nigeria to ensure that education space, Schools do not become an Unsafe Space for innocent students seeking education and proper moulding in both training and character and therefore to think that Authorities in a State as Plateau, will fold its hands, look the other way round, or possibly even collude and have private individuals and building contractors compromise Regulations and expressly put the lives of innocent Children and Teachers on the line of Danger and ultimately, Death.

“Going by the admission of the State Government itself, there were Negligence and Compromise both by Regulatory Authorities as well as private Owners and Actors, stand out prominently in the tragedy that occurred.

“These acts are purely criminal in nature, and we demand thorough investigation and prosecution of all who were involved in this.

“We commiserate with the families and relatives of the affected Children and Teachers, as well as the entire School community and People of Plateau State over distressing incident.

“We urge them to take solace in the fact that these great Kids and their Teachers died in the course of improving themselves so as to add Value to their Society, the Country and Humanity at large. They therefore did not die in vain.

“The SPEC Campaign again raises the alarm and roundly condemned the act of government leaving the educational sector to the whims and caprices of private owners whose interest is solely centred on profit maximization at the detriment of student’s safety, sound as well as quality Education.

“Education is a Basic Right, guaranteed every Nigerian Child by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Therefore, treat this very fundamental Right with levity, as being witnessed in the Country presently, is a gross Abuse of the Rights of the Nigerian Child and we condemn this in totality.

“At the Save-Public-Education-Campaign, our hearts are heavy as we join these bereaved families to mourn the untimely and avoidable death of these School Kids.

“We strongly urge the Government to use this as a springboard, to immediately rise to its duties in the educational sector by prioritising adequate budgetary funding of the educational sector in line UNESCO Recommendations, improve the standard of structures and quality of learning in Schools.

“Lastly, we make clear, that building collapse in the Country has become a growing concern and a clear threat to Public safety and therefore requires immediate attention and action from all the relevant Safety as well as building Regulators and Agencies, etc, to rise to the occasion and find a lasting solution to the menace.

“Appropriate sanction, including Jail sentences should also be effected on individuals, developers, or public officials who engage in compromising laid-down standards and regulations in building construction for illicit gains.

“This will go a long way in helping to restore the integrity of structural constructions and guard against undue loss of innocent lives and properties of the generality of the Public.