NUC Threatens to Revoke Programme Approvals Over Accreditation Irregularities
The National Universities Commission (NUC) has issued a stern warning to universities, cautioning them against taking shortcuts during accreditation visits or face the revocation of programme approvals. Chris Maiyaki, the acting executive secretary of the commission, delivered this warning during a recent interview with journalists in Abuja.
Maiyaki emphasized that institutions and programmes failing to meet the minimum academic standards and resource assessment benchmarks would be denied accreditation. He explained that the NUC deploys teams of subject experts and staff to conduct thorough evaluations of universities, assessing their standards, environment, resources, infrastructure, and personnel, including non-teaching staff.
The outcome of these evaluations forms the basis for the NUC’s communication with bodies like JAMB, NYSC, TETFund, and the public. Maiyaki highlighted the importance of ensuring that graduating students face no issues regarding the legality of their qualifications.
He outlined the NUC’s process, stating that institutions falling short of the threshold might receive interim accreditation to remedy deficiencies. However, consistent non-performance could lead to the denial of accreditation. Maiyaki also mentioned the NUC’s history of suspending licenses of private universities and stopping federal universities’ programmes to address shortcomings.
Reflecting on the NUC’s growth since its establishment in 1962, Maiyaki noted the significant increase in the number of universities, with 61 federal public universities, 63 state-owned public universities, and 146 private universities currently in operation.
Peoples Gazette
