NUC Directs Universities To Resume Academic Activities On January 18

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has directed Vice
Chancellors of universities to resume academic activities on
January 18, 2021.

It explained that the instruction was given in line with the
directive of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 on the
resumption of schools across the country.

NUC’s directive was contained in a statement signed by the
Deputy Executive Secretary (Administration) of the commission, Mr
Chris Maiyaki, on Friday.

In the statement issued on behalf of the NUC Executive
Secretary, Professor Abubakar Rasheed, Maiyaki urged the
universities to safeguard lives by strictly adhering to the extant
safety protocols and the guidelines of the Nigeria Centre for
Disease Control (NCDC) on COVID-19.

He noted that the guidelines have been communicated on several
occasions to university authorities through circulars from the
commission.

The deputy executive secretary stated that on the resumption of
academic activities, universities 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.

He, however, said officers on Grade Level 12 and below have been
advised to remain at home for a five-week period as earlier
directed by the Federal Government.

Public universities in the country have been closed since March
2020 after the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) embarked
on an indefinite strike that lasted about 10 months.

A lockdown imposed by the government to contain the spread of
COVID-19 also forced the students to remain at home.

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has directed Vice
Chancellors of universities to resume academic activities on
January 18, 2021.

It explained that the instruction was given in line with the
directive of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 on the
resumption of schools across the country.

NUC’s directive was contained in a statement signed by the
Deputy Executive Secretary (Administration) of the commission, Mr
Chris Maiyaki, on Friday.

In the statement issued on behalf of the NUC Executive
Secretary, Professor Abubakar Rasheed, Maiyaki urged the
universities to safeguard lives by strictly adhering to the extant
safety protocols and the guidelines of the Nigeria Centre for
Disease Control (NCDC) on COVID-19.

He noted that the guidelines have been communicated on several
occasions to university authorities through circulars from the
commission.

The deputy executive secretary stated that on the resumption of
academic activities, universities 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.

He, however, said officers on Grade Level 12 and below have been
advised to remain at home for a five-week period as earlier
directed by the Federal Government.

Public universities in the country have been closed since March
2020 after the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) embarked
on an indefinite strike that lasted about 10 months.

A lockdown imposed by the government to contain the spread of
COVID-19 also forced the students to remain at home.