The National Universities Commission has directed vice-chancellors of universities to commence academic activities from January 18.
The announcement comes as a relief after federal universities have been shut since March 2020 following a strike.
The NUC in a statement by its Deputy Executive Secretary (administration) Chris Maiyaki on behalf of the Executive Secretary Prof. Abubakar Rasheed obtained on Friday morning said 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.
According to the NUC, the new directive became a necessary 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.
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.”
