By Deborah Hassan
The National Universities Commission, NUC, on Friday disclosed the approval of January 18 as resumption date for academic activities in universities.
In its bid to prevent a further spread of the second wave of the Coronavirus across the country, the commission had previously ordered all tertiary institutions to remain shut indefinitely.
The announcement was contained in a statement signed by Chris Maiyaki, NUC’s Deputy Executive Secretary (Administration), on behalf of Abubakar Rasheed, the Commission’s Executive Secretary.
The statement added that the development was in accordance with the directive of the presidential task force (PTF) team on COVID-19, adding that officers on Grade Level 12 and below were to remain at home for five weeks in compliance with the Federal Government’s directive.
It urged all universities to adhere strictly to safety measures put in place to curtail the spread of the virus and warned against violating of the full circle of semester system, consistent with the benchmark minimum academic standards (BMAS) approved by the National Universities Commission as well as other extant quality standards and guidelines.
“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,” the statement said.