‘NUC Has Not Scrapped Part-Time Programmes’
he National Universities Commission (NUC) has not scrapped part-time programmes in
Nigerian universities, the Executive Secretary, Professor Julius Okojie, has said.
Addressing newsmen in Abuja recently, Professor Okojie explained that the programmes
were suspended to carry out a staff and students audit so as to identify and address issues that
border on quality in the System. He said the decision became necessary following complaints
from several quarters on the bastardisation of part-time programmes by universities. According
to him, most universities violate the recommended percentage of 20% part-time and 80% for
regular students in their admission process, leading to more attention being given to part-time
students than the regular ones, all in a bid to boost Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). Majority
of these students never had JAMB results which is a prerequisite for admission.
Professor Okojie disclosed that, on completion of the audit, part-time programmes, if allowed to
subsist, would be domiciled on the main campus of the institution and must not exceed 20% of
the student population of each programme. On quality assurance, the Executive Secretary
informed the press that NUC, in collaboration with ICPC, was set to carry out a comprehensive
forensic audit of staff records, students admission, examination records, governance structure,
covering three major issues of input, process and output in the NUS.
On the concept of “marketisation of education”, he said Nigeria was a big market for the pursuit
of education and berated the rush for foreign degrees by Nigerians, saying that the ‘degree mill’
phenomenon was global and not peculiar to Nigeria. He decried the practice, in some foreign
universities, of admitting candidates with Arts background in the sciences like Medicine,
Engineering, among others, which, he said, has not happened in the history of university
education in Nigeria.
Professor Okojie also lamented the weak governance structure inherent in some Nigerian
universities, saying private universities were running foul of the laws of universities with abrupt
changes of Vice-Chancellors without due process. He explained that some universities
periodically changed Vice-Chancellors and other principal officers, without proper
advertisement, a trend which does not allow for stability. He added that contrary to insinuations,
funding was no longer a major challenge of the NUS, particularly in federal and state
universities, as the federal government was making deliberate effort to address the issue, through
various interventions.
The Executive Secretary frowned at some universities who administered multiple choice
questions to students, noting that such an assessment was a contravention of NUC standards. He
explained that the decision to suspend the licences of six universities and outright withdrawal of
one, was taken to safeguard the System.
(l-r) Prof. Julius Okojie, Mr. Akinbode Agbaoye, Arc. Balogun, Mrs. Hansatu Abechi, Mr. Ibrahim Dan’Iya and
Mrs Florence Asemadahun
A cross section of the press during the luncheon
Page 9
Mrs. Hansatu Abechi
NUC Director, Inspection and Monitoring
He appealed to the media to partner with the Commission in exposing universities that engaged
in corrupt practices that are capable of destroying the system. He particularly urged them to carry
out independent investigation on the activities of universities, to assist NUC carry out its
mandate of repositioning the NUS for greater impact.
At the meeting were the Deputy Executive Secretary, Mr. Akinbode Agbaoye; Director
Management Support Services, Mr. Ibrahim Dan’Iya; Ag. Directors of Physical Planning and
Development, Arc. Bola Balogun; Inspection and Monitoring, Mrs. Hansatu Abechi and
Academic Standards, Mrs. Florence Asemadahun. The Directors, Student Support Services,
Research and Innovation and Open and Distance Education were represented by Mrs. Lauretta
Achor, Mr. Musa Ndanusa and Arc. Samuel Ikani, respectively.
he National Universities Commission (NUC) has not scrapped part-time programmes in
Nigerian universities, the Executive Secretary, Professor Julius Okojie, has said.
Addressing newsmen in Abuja recently, Professor Okojie explained that the programmes
were suspended to carry out a staff and students audit so as to identify and address issues that
border on quality in the System. He said the decision became necessary following complaints
from several quarters on the bastardisation of part-time programmes by universities. According
to him, most universities violate the recommended percentage of 20% part-time and 80% for
regular students in their admission process, leading to more attention being given to part-time
students than the regular ones, all in a bid to boost Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). Majority
of these students never had JAMB results which is a prerequisite for admission.
Professor Okojie disclosed that, on completion of the audit, part-time programmes, if allowed to
subsist, would be domiciled on the main campus of the institution and must not exceed 20% of
the student population of each programme. On quality assurance, the Executive Secretary
informed the press that NUC, in collaboration with ICPC, was set to carry out a comprehensive
forensic audit of staff records, students admission, examination records, governance structure,
covering three major issues of input, process and output in the NUS.
On the concept of “marketisation of education”, he said Nigeria was a big market for the pursuit
of education and berated the rush for foreign degrees by Nigerians, saying that the ‘degree mill’
phenomenon was global and not peculiar to Nigeria. He decried the practice, in some foreign
universities, of admitting candidates with Arts background in the sciences like Medicine,
Engineering, among others, which, he said, has not happened in the history of university
education in Nigeria.
Professor Okojie also lamented the weak governance structure inherent in some Nigerian
universities, saying private universities were running foul of the laws of universities with abrupt
changes of Vice-Chancellors without due process. He explained that some universities
periodically changed Vice-Chancellors and other principal officers, without proper
advertisement, a trend which does not allow for stability. He added that contrary to insinuations,
funding was no longer a major challenge of the NUS, particularly in federal and state
universities, as the federal government was making deliberate effort to address the issue, through
various interventions.
The Executive Secretary frowned at some universities who administered multiple choice
questions to students, noting that such an assessment was a contravention of NUC standards. He
explained that the decision to suspend the licences of six universities and outright withdrawal of
one, was taken to safeguard the System.
(l-r) Prof. Julius Okojie, Mr. Akinbode Agbaoye, Arc. Balogun, Mrs. Hansatu Abechi, Mr. Ibrahim Dan’Iya and
Mrs Florence Asemadahun
A cross section of the press during the luncheon
Page 9
Mrs. Hansatu Abechi
NUC Director, Inspection and Monitoring
He appealed to the media to partner with the Commission in exposing universities that engaged
in corrupt practices that are capable of destroying the system. He particularly urged them to carry
out independent investigation on the activities of universities, to assist NUC carry out its
mandate of repositioning the NUS for greater impact.
At the meeting were the Deputy Executive Secretary, Mr. Akinbode Agbaoye; Director
Management Support Services, Mr. Ibrahim Dan’Iya; Ag. Directors of Physical Planning and
Development, Arc. Bola Balogun; Inspection and Monitoring, Mrs. Hansatu Abechi and
Academic Standards, Mrs. Florence Asemadahun. The Directors, Student Support Services,
Research and Innovation and Open and Distance Education were represented by Mrs. Lauretta
Achor, Mr. Musa Ndanusa and Arc. Samuel Ikani, respectively.
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