Following the recent directive and approval given by the Federal Government of Nigeria that individual states should plan and decide resumption dates for their schools, the Akwa Ibom State government has made a positive move in proposing dates for schools resumption in the States.

According to the information issued and signed by the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Barr In Ememobong, the State Government has fixed the following dates for resumption of schools in the state.

1. Primary schools are directed to commence processes for resumption, only for primary six pupils, on 21st September 2020. This is meant to prepare the pupils for the Common Entrance examination. The state government has also promised to make face masks available to all the pupils when they resume.

2. Public secondary schools are fixed to reopen on the 28th of September 2020; while private secondary schools are to commence their processes for resumption on 21st September 2020. The government has however instructed all schools to comply with the Covid-19 preventive protocols upon resumption.

3. TheAkwa Ibom State University will commence the processes for resumption on 21st September 2020.

4. The Akwa Ibom State College of Education, Afaha Nsit, is to reopen on the 21st of September 2020.

5. The Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua is to resume on October 5th, 2020.

These decisions and resolutions were made during the Akwa Ibom State Executive Councill Meeting which was chaired by the State Governor, His Excellency Mr udom Gabriel Emmanuel, held on Friday 18th September 2020.

Nigerian doctors in state-run hospitals have called off a strike over pay, inadequate facilities and a lack of protective equipment, union leaders said.

The strike by the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), which represents some 40 percent of Nigeria's doctors, began on Monday. It was the latest in a string of work stoppages to hit the country as it struggles to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.

NARD president Aliyu Sokomba told AFP the industrial action was suspended on Thursday to give the government enough time to meet its demands.

"The NEC (National Executive Council) of the association has resolved that the strike be suspended because nobody has received a dime anyway. But because we have received commitment from the government," he said.

"We always give them time to do what they want. We have asked them what time they want and they say two weeks. We are giving them the two weeks."