NUC directs varsities to reopen Jan 18

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has directed vice-chancellors of universities to commence academic activities on January 18.

Chris Maiyaki, NUC’s deputy executive secretary (administration), broke the news in a statement issued on behalf of Abubakar Rasheed, the commission’s executive secretary, on Friday.

According to the NUC, the development was in accordance with the directive of the presidential task force (PTF) team on COVID-19.

It added that the move was also sequel to several enquires on the full import of the commission’s previous letter with Ref. No. NUC/ES/138/Vol.63/151 and dated December 23, 2020, on the issue.

The commission, however, ordered officers on grade level 12 and below to stay put at home for five weeks in compliance with the federal government’s directive.

Maiyaki enjoined universities to ensure strict compliance with COVID-19 safety protocols laid down by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) as contained in the circulars issued by the commission.

“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,” he said.

The development comes about two weeks after the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) had suspended its strike.

ASUU had embarked on an indefinite strike in March last year over the non-implementation of agreements the federal government reached with it in 2009.

But the union conditionally suspended the over nine-month industrial action in December following series of negotiations with the federal government.