Vice Chancellors of Federal Government-owned universities are directed to begin academic activities on January 18, in accordance with the directive of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) team on COVID-19.
Nigerian universities closed since following a strike action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) as well as during the outbreak of Coronavirus pandemic last year.
ASUU suspended its nine-month old strike on December 23, 2020 after the federal government met their demands, including paying the lecturers their outstanding salaries using an older payment platform, GIFMIS, different from the controversial IPPIS.
The National Universities Commission (NUC) that gave the directive said since Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 has given approval, universities can now resume academic activities.
A statement signed by Chris Maiyaki, the deputy executive secretary (Administration) of the NUC, mandated officers on Grade Level 12 and below to remain at home for a period of five weeks as earlier directed by the federal government.
The statement urged university authorities to safeguard lives by strictly adhering to the extant safety protocols and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) guidelines, which have been communicated severally to the Nigerian University System through NUC’s circulars.
“I am to add that universities on resumption of academic activities, must under no circumstance violate the full cycle of the semester system, consistent with the Benchmark Minimum Academic Standards (BMAS) approved by the NUC, as well as other extant quality assurance standards and guidelines,” it added.
