COVID-19 lockdown ease: President Buhari gives final directives over reopening of schools

The Federal Government of Nigeria under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari has given final directives over reopening of schools amid coronavirus spread.

The FG announced that all schools of all levels remain closed so as to stop the increase of COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

President Buhari government made public through a circular dated on Friday, May 8, passed to heads of commissions and regulatory bodies in the education sector.

Onyxnews Nigeria quoted Vanguard saying the ministry of education, through the memo, warned the authorities across education levels to dismiss the fake news going viral, and that there has been an order for the reopening of the schools.

This reliable online news platform gathered that the statement was sent to the executive secretaries, National Universities Commission (NUC), National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) and the director, Basic and Secondary Education (BSE).

Part of the memo read thus: “Further to our earlier circular, FME/PSE/HE/1041/C 1/Vol.1/137 of 19th March 2020, this is to confirm that all schools shall remain closed as we monitor developments on the containment of COVID-19.

“This is without prejudice to officers on essential services and other operational exigencies as may be determined by the chief executive of each institution.

“All chief executives and other stakeholders are to ignore ‘fake news’ on the subject matter in the social media as the situation is under constant review and any decision on the resumption shall be conveyed through the appropriate channels.”

Meanwhile, according to earlier reports, the Managing Director of Kresta Laurel Limited, Mr Dideolu Falobi, called on the Nigeria Government to declare a state of emergency on the education sector.

He called on the Federal Government to improve the sector through the provision of infrastructure, better funding, inexpensive fees, quality remuneration for staff among others.

He made this announcement at the 13th Convocation Ceremony of the Lagos City Polytechnic, which took place in LTV premises on Thursday.