Sultan Quadri
SUMMARY
Once again, a viral picture on social media and news stories suggests that the federal government has announced the resumption date for Universities and polytechnics. This time around it is said to be on Monday, June 1, 2020
CONCLUSION
The news story is totally false. The federal government has not made such an announcement at any point in time. It is purely speculative and hopes to get the public’s attention.
FULL TEXT
A viral picture on social media and on blogs suggests that the federal government of Nigeria has announced Monday, June 1, 2020, as the resumption date for all universities and polytechnics in Nigeria.
It also claims that whatever happens in the fight against coronavirus in a month’s time all schools will come back to full action and resumption.
VERIFICATION
The Federal Government has said that there is no fixed date yet for schools to resume in the country despite President Muhammadu Buhari’s announcement on gradual ease of the lockdown in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Lagos and Ogun states.
The Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, said this on Tuesday, April 28 in Abuja at the 21st joint national briefing of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19.
The name of the agency or government ministry that issued the alleged statement, the date and location it was made is absent from the news story.
President Muhammadu Buhari in his Presidential address on April 27, 2020, speaking on the phased and gradual easing of the lockdown gave State governors the power to amend and expand based on their unique circumstances provided they maintain alignment with the guidelines on public health and hygiene. So there is no Nationwide declaration of school resumption since each state has peculiar needs.
It was on this note that the governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, said schools in the state may resume on July 15 despite rising cases of Coronavirus.
Mr Makinde made this announcement at the Secretariat of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Oyo State branch, in Agodi, Ibadan, during a special programme to mark this year’s Worker’s Day.
The claims are merely speculative, aims to generate views and attention. It doesn’t represent any statement made by the federal government.
Nigerians should watch out for the announcement of the resumption of schools from their various state governors and if need be the federal ministry of education will issue a press release to address this matter.
People’s check implores Nigerians not to be too quick to believe and send broadcast messages they receive from any social platform or blog until they are sure of its accuracy
Click here, to follow us on Twitter and here, to follow us on Facebook
People's Check 