Federal Government has ordered the re-opening of Federal Universities, shut down since last February 14, following the ongoing strike by lecturers.

Vice Chancellors and Pro-chancellors of the universities are directed to ensure their re-opening, to allow students to return to campuses.

Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Professor Abubakar Rasheed, in  a letter to the Vice Chancellors, also ordered them to ensure that the striking lecturers commence lecture in their various institutions.

Also, the Vice Chancellors are directed to restore daily and routine activities in the universities.

The directive follows the judgement of the National Industrial Court, which ordered the lecturers to suspend strike.

But the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) had since appealed against the order at the court of appeal in Abuja.

Last week, Labour Minister, Senator Chris Ngige, had asked the lecturers to suspend their strike and obey the judgement of the National Industrial Court.

Meanwhile, Vice chancellors say they are studying the directive of the National Universities Commission, ordering them to re-open universities.

Secretary General of the committee of Vice Chancellors, Professor Yakubu Ochefu in a statement, says the directive appears to be communicating to them, the last wednesday’s order of the National Industrial Court.

The Vice Chancellors, however, say they are studying the NUC Directive, in view of the appeal lodged at a court of appeal in Abuja, to stop the execution of the judgement of the National Industrial Court.

The Vice Chancellor say they want to prevent a situation whereby they will re-open the institutions and the lecturers will not suspend their ongoing strike.