By Babajide Okeowo
The National Universities Commission, NUC, has directed all universities in the country to suspend academic activities immediately.
This development is coming on the heels of the resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.
The commission particularly directed Vice-Chancellors of universities not to allow any form of academic activities involving large crowds to be organized or hosted on their campuses.
These directives were contained in a circular issued by the NUC and signed by Chris Maiyaki, Deputy Executive Secretary (Administration). It directed that classrooms, hostel accommodation, conferences, and seminars should be suspended.
“Vice-Chancellors are to please note that the directive is part of the measures approved by Mr. President to mitigate the second wave of Coronavirus infections in the country.
The affected officers are expected to perform their duties from home while those on GL 13 and above should strictly adhere to the extant preventive measures, including maintenance of physical distancing, regular washing of hands and/or sanitizing of hands, wearing of face masks, and reducing the number of visitors to offices” the circular read.
It further directed that universities should remain closed during this intervening period, pending further directives by FG on the reopening of schools.
Recall that the FG recently reeled out new COVID 19 protocols to curb the spread of the disease in the wake of a resurgence of the coronavirus in Nigeria.
The Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 recently directed that all informal and formal festivity events including weddings, conferences, congresses, office parties, concerts, seminars, sporting activities, end of year events shall be restricted to not more than 50 persons.
It added that for worship events, “Where more than 50 persons are attending, any such events, the gathering should be held outdoors only.”
