A invoice in search of to repeal and re-enact the National Universities Commission (NUC) Act to strengthen the fee’s regulatory powers and modernise university accreditation processes has handed second reading within the Senate.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, introduced the passage throughout Thursday’s plenary after the invoice obtained majority help in a voice vote.
After the passage, the invoice was referred to the Senate Committee on Tertiary Education and TETFund for additional legislative scrutiny and a public listening to.
The executive-sponsored invoice, introduced by the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), seeks to strengthen the NUC’s regulatory framework, promote world finest practices in university training, and encourage innovation and analysis.
It additionally seeks to strengthen enforcement measures in opposition to universities that violate the fee’s pointers and procedures, whereas establishing the NUC because the apex physique chargeable for accrediting educational programmes in Nigerian universities.
Leading the controversy on the invoice, Mr Bamidele mentioned the proposed laws would modernise the prevailing legislation, which he described as outdated within the face of serious adjustments within the greater training sector.
“As at today, the existing Act has become outdated in light of significant transformations in the higher education landscape, including the proliferation of private universities, the rise of transnational education, rapid technological advancements, globalisation of education, and evolving national development priorities,” he mentioned.
“Therefore, the Bill seeks to repeal the obsolete provisions and enact a modern, comprehensive legal framework that aligns the commission’s mandate with contemporary realities for more effective regulation, enhanced quality assurance, and sustainable development of university education in Nigeria,” he added.
Mr Bamidele mentioned the proposed legislation would additionally promote university autonomy by balancing regulatory oversight with higher institutional freedom in educational and administrative issues, thereby lowering undue interference.
He added that the invoice would modernise the fee’s governance construction by updating the composition and features of its board, bettering operational effectivity and incorporating digital instruments to improve transparency.
The senator acknowledged that the laws would additionally facilitate internationalisation and partnerships by establishing a clearer framework for overseas funding in university training, worldwide collaborations and the attraction of world-class teachers and college students.
He additional mentioned the invoice would handle funding and sustainability challenges within the sector by introducing provisions to help diversified funding sources and enhance useful resource administration.
The NUC
The NUC was established in 1962 as an advisory company within the cupboard workplace of the then federal authorities. It grew to become a statutory physique in 1974, giving it a proper authorized mandate to coordinate and regulate university training in Nigeria.
The fee is chargeable for setting minimal educational requirements, approving educational programmes, coordinating the institution of degree-awarding establishments and making certain high quality assurance throughout the Nigerian university system. It additionally advises federal and state governments on university training and accredits educational programmes to guarantee they meet prescribed requirements.
Under its accreditation course of, the NUC deploys panels of specialists to assess universities’ curricula, educational workers energy, bodily amenities, tools and different sources required to run permitted programmes. Based on the findings, programmes might obtain full accreditation, interim accreditation or be denied accreditation, relying on their compliance with the fee’s minimal requirements.
Where a programme fails to meet the required requirements, the fee can deny or withdraw its accreditation and direct the university to cease admitting new college students into the affected programme. The fee additionally screens compliance with its regulatory necessities and may take additional motion the place establishments function exterior permitted pointers.
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In circumstances involving unlicensed establishments, the NUC has introduced closures and warned members of the general public in opposition to enrolling in such institutions. However, the accreditation of a person educational programme is distinct from the licensing or closure of a whole university, which includes separate regulatory and authorized issues.
The proposed laws comes amid vital adjustments in Nigeria’s greater training panorama, together with the growth of personal universities, the expansion of cross-border training and the growing use of digital applied sciences in instructing and studying.
The invoice seeks to replace the authorized framework governing the fee’s operations and strengthen its capability to implement educational requirements, enhance high quality assurance and reply to rising challenges in university training.
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