Williams Anuku Abuja
There are indications that the federal government may order the reopening of tertiary institutions any time soon.
This may come amidst growing concerns that the rate of Covid-19 infections may hit the 50,000 mark in few days time.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Covid 19, Boss Mustapha gave clues to this decision on Monday, while briefing Nigerians on control measures of the virus.
He expressed delight that the West African Examinations Council WAEC commenced today, nationwide and Nigeria is participating in the exercise.
Mustapha equally said latest global statistics of the infection has attained 22million with cumulative death toll put at over 771,000.
He said, “Nigeria is gradually inching towards the 50,000 mark of confirmed cases of COVID-19 with a total number of confirmed cases standing at 49,098 as at yesterday 16th August, 2020.
” The PTF has continued to observe the noticeable decline in fatalities, high discharge rates and consistent under 500 daily cases for the past four weeks in spite of the huge jump in our testing capacity and the increase in the number daily tests conducted
“The PTF wishes to strongly remind all Nigerians that we have not attained the desired level that will enable us make conclusive statements on the rate of infection in the country. We must, therefore, continue to do that which is giving us record improvements and desist from actions capable of undermining our successes.
“The world had its highest daily increase of 294,237 confirmed cases yesterday bringing the total to 22.4million with a cumulative death of 771,000. These statistics are daily reminders that humanity is still endangered by this virus. We are also reminded that the countries that appeared to have overcome the pandemic are actually being forced to re-introduce even stricter containment measures.
“As a country, Nigeria should not and would not lower its guard and as a people we should also improve our compliance to the various protocols at all levels.
“Today, the Senior Secondary School Certificate (SSCE) examinations commenced all over the country, like in other West African States, and the PTF is happy to note the high level of compliance with the protocols for the re-opening of exit classes. It is in this light that we appreciate the call by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) for the reopening of tertiary institutions. As a listening government, we wish to state that education is topmost on the priority list and the reopening of our institutions remain critical, within set safety parameters”.
There are however fears that the existing conflict between the Academic Staff Union of Universities ASUU and the Federal Government over discrepancies in the implementation of the Integrated Personnel Payroll and Information System IPPIS, may jeopardize the planned reopening of the institutions.
Besides this, other university staff unions like the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities NASU and Senior Staff Association of Universities SSANU are also warming up to commence industrial actions once government make good plans to open the tertiary institutions.
