FG directs reopening of schools, NYSC camps

Federal Government of Nigeria, Thursday, directed all educational institutions to begin the process of reopening schools within this phase of COVID-19 pandemic.

The National Coordinator of the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19, Dr. Sani Aliyu made this known on Thursday while briefing at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja.

The coordinator said, schools including day care, primary, secondary and tertiary institutions should begin the process of getting towards potentially reopening within this phase in the country.

He said, "we strongly recommend that states conduct risk assessment to ensure all schools are at a level of compliance and create a monitoring mechanism to assess, create and monitor this level of preparedness.

 "Meanwhile, all day-care and educational institutions are to remain closed to in-classes until this level of risk is assessed.

“And if there will be opening of schools, it must be staged and preferably carried out in phases to ensure that this does not pose a risk to the general public and in particular to vulnerable groups that might end up getting infected by students going back home.”

Federal government has also approved the reopening of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camps across the country.

 Dr Sani Aliyu equally gave the details on Thursday in his briefing with journalists in Abuja.

According to Aliyu, the NYSC authorities should consolidate on the safety protocols, and reopen orientation camps when the tertiary institutions open.

“We are in the process of developing strict guidelines to ensure there is no outbreak of Covid-19 when this process starts,” he said.

It could be recalled the all orientation camps in the country were shut in March this year as part of measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 but the PTF is making arrangements to see that the private sector is allowed to determine the number of staff that will work, but in a safe environment; while in public service, only level 12 and above will be allowed to work.

The PTF tenure, is supposed to elapse on September 17, but has been extended by President Muhammadu Buhari to December this year.

The Chairman of the PTF on COVID-19, Mr Boss Mustapha disclosed this and said, the extension was necessary to sustain the robust multi-sectoral response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.