The National Universities Commission (NUC), on Friday morning, has directed universities across the country to commence academic activities on January 18.
The NUC gave the directive in a statement on Friday, January 8, through its deputy executive secretary (administration) Chris Maiyaki.
Recall that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) called off its nine-month strike on December 23 after series of meetings between the union and the representatives of the federal government.
Maiyaki disclosed that the statement was issued on behalf of the executive secretary of the union, Prof Abubakar Rasheed.
The NUC stated that any further developments would be communicated to universities accordingly.
The commission, however, advised universities to safeguard lives by strictly adhering to all COVID-19 safety protocols.
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.
NUC further mandated universities to adhere to the full cycle of the semester system, consistent with the Benchmark Minimum Academic Standards (BMAS) approved by the federal government.
Meanwhile, an emerging report indicates that lecturers in public universities may soon begin another strike if the federal government fails to fulfil its own part of the agreement reached in December 2020.
The Academic Staff Union Of Universities (ASUU) stated that a fresh industrial action could commence as early as next week.
The union made the disclosure in a tweet on Monday, January 4.
In another tweet on Tuesday morning, January 5, ASUU advised the government to honour the agreement reached to avert the planned strike.