National Universities Commission (NUC) has directed vice-chancellors of universities to begin academic activities on January 18.
The announcement was in compliance with the directive of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.
MDB recalls that universities in Nigeria have been closed due to the strike action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) as well as the coronavirus pandemic.
However, the strike action was suspended on December 23 after an agreement with the government on university funding and other matters.
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Following this, students and lecturers expected to resume academic activities, but this was halted after NUC ordered varsities to shut down amid increasing COVID-19 cases and the emergence of a new strain of the virus.
Read Also: COVID-19: NUC Orders Universities To Suspend Academic Activities
However, in latest development, NUC in a statement by its Deputy Executive Secretary (Administration), Chris Maiyaki, on behalf of the Executive Secretary, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, has ordered universities to resume activities.
He stated that any further developments would be communicated to Universities accordingly.
The commission, however, directed officers on Grade Level 12 and below to remain at home for a period of five weeks as earlier directed by the Federal Government.
Read Also: COVID-19: FG Directs Level 12, Others To Work From Home
Maiyaki told universities to safeguard lives by strictly adhering to the extant safety protocols and guidelines of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, which have been communicated severally to them through NUC circulars.
He said;
I am to add that universities on the resumption of academic activities, must under no circumstance violate the full cycle of the semester system, consistent with the Benchmark Minimum Academic Standards approved by the NUC, as well as other extant quality assurance standards and guidelines.
