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Tag: National Universities Commission (NUC)

  • Don urges NUC to tackle overcrowding in varsities, others

    Don urges NUC to tackle overcrowding in varsities, others

    A Professor of Educational Management at the Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere-Ekiti, Ebenezer Adu, has urged the National Universities Commission (NUC) and other regulatory agencies to intensify efforts in curbing overcrowding in universities.

    Prof. Adu, who delivered the institution’s second inaugural lecture in Ikere-Ekiti, titled: “Fixing the Engine, Not Just the Destination: Aligning Internal Efficiency with the Goals of Effective Schools”, said universities have continued to sacrifice quality for revenue by admitting students far beyond their capacity.

    He described the trend as dangerous, stressing that overstretched facilities, high teacher-student ratios and poor instructional delivery have led to the production of ill-equipped graduates.

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    “Some institutions admit large numbers of students to boost revenue. This leads to high teacher-pupil ratios and low quality of output,” Adu said.

    He called on the Ministry of Education (NUC), National Board for Technical Education (NABTEC) and National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) to strengthen monitoring and ensure universities and other tertiary institutions comply with approved admission quotas.

    He said: “Regular inspection and supervision of instruction by the regulatory body should always be undertaken to improve the quality of instruction and reduce wastage.

    “Some of the high institutions look for the means of increasing internally generated revenue; they admit large number of students, which lead to high teacher-pupil ratio. At the end, there is low quality of output.

  • NUC: Pharmacy,  Physiotherapy, Optometry now six -year courses

    NUC: Pharmacy,  Physiotherapy, Optometry now six -year courses

    Pharmacy, Physiotherapy and Optometry undergraduates are now to spend a minimum of six years in universities instead of five.

    Upon completion of their programmes, they would be conferred with ‘Doctor’ (clinical session) instead of Bachelor Degree.

    A Pharmacy graduate will have his or her name prefixed with Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm D); Physiotherapy graduand, Doctor of Physiotherapy (DPT); and Optometry graduate (O.D Doctor of Optometry).

    National Universities Commission (NUC), the regulator of tertiary educational institutions in the country, made this known via a statement yesterday by its Acting Director of Public Affairs, Franca Chukwuonwo.

    But it did not say whether or not the decision would begin with the current set of students. 

    Chukwuonwo explained that the move was to incorporate more clinical and practical sessions, improve foundational course coverage, enhance clinical skills, and address all specialty areas comprehensively.

    She added that the timeframe extension aligns with global best practices for training professionals in the fields.

    The commission’s spokesman, however, revealed that the Doctor of Medical Laboratory Science (DMLS) programme being offered by some universities is illegal.

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    The statement reads: “The National Universities Commission, cognisant of the need to keep abreast with global perspectives on programmes and course delivery in the university education space, had carried out some nomenclature change and upgraded programmes from Bachelor’s Degree to Doctor (Bachelor’s Degree with clinical sessions) status in Nigerian universities.

    “This quest to upgrade the status of some medical-related programmes from Bachelor’s Degree to Doctor (Bachelor’s Degree with clinical sessions) was borne out of the desire to incorporate more clinical/practical sessions, provide sufficient coverage of foundation courses, improve on clinical skills and cover all specialty areas.

    “The trend seeks to also align with global best practices applicable in the training of professionals in these medical related programmes.

    “Furthermore, the certificates obtained from the Nigerian university system can be at par with those obtained in similar programmes from other climes.

    “This will ensure the requisite harmonisation, mutuality and global competitiveness of Nigerian graduates in terms of certificates evaluation, employability and further studies in the relevant disciplines.

    “Programmes upgraded from Bachelor’s Degree to Doctor status with clinical sessions, which are found in NUC’s Benchmark Minimum Academic Standards (BMAS) and Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS) include Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm D), Doctor of Physiotherapy (DPT), Optometry (O.D Doctor of Optometry).

    “Consequently, the duration of the above programmes was increased from five to six years to accommodate the additional courses and clinicals incorporated into the curriculum.

    “The general public and all stakeholders are hereby informed that the Doctor of Medical Laboratory Science (DMLS) programme does not exist in the NUC’s BMAS or CCMAS and thus has not been captured as an upgraded programme.

    “Consequently, MLSD is not an approved programme in the offerings of any Nigerian university.”

  • Varsity workers give Fed Govt 21-day ultimatum to settle withheld salaries

    Varsity workers give Fed Govt 21-day ultimatum to settle withheld salaries

    University workers under the aegis of the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) have given the federal government a 21-day ultimatum to pay their five-and-a-half months withheld salaries among other demands.

    The NAAT members threatened to withdraw their services in the universities if the demands were not addressed at the end of the ultimatum.

    The ultimatum was part of NAAT’s resolutions in its 56th National Executive Council, NEC, meeting held in Taraba state.

    Their strike notice follows a similar one issued by the Academic Staff Union of Universities to the Federal Government.

    A letter addressed to the Minister of State for Labour and Employment and signed by the association’s President, Comrade Ibeji Nwokoma, warned that the union would not be held responsible if after the expiration of the ultimatum which commenced from September 30 and nothing was done to address their plethora of demands.

    The letter titled: “Notice of 21 days ultimatum to embark on an industrial action, was copied to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the National Universities Commission (NUC).

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    It reads: “The leadership of the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) wishes to draw your attention to the above subject matter.

    “Arising from the 56th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at Federal University Wukari on Wednesday 25th and Thursday 26th September 2024, the Union is compelled to issue this notice of a three-week ultimatum as a result of failure of government to keep to the promises and assurances given on the payment of the five and half months withheld salaries of NAAT members even after a presidential directive of over five months ago and other outstanding issues as stated below;

    “Non-release of enabling circular on CONTISS 14 & 15 for NAAT members as agreed in 2017 MoU, payment of arrears of minimum wage to the omitted members of NAAT (April 2019 to January 2020), payment of arrears of 25% and 35% salary increase (January to December 2023).

    “Inadequate infrastructure, dilapidated laboratories, workshops and obsolete equipment. Complete/total negligence of the training of academic technologists on the use of modern equipment and ICT.

    “The Honourable Minister is to note that at the expiration of the three weeks and without any positive results from the government, the union will be forced to commence industrial action without further notice.”

     It will be recalled that NAAT initiated an industrial action on March 21, 2022, that ended in August 2022 after a series of meetings held at the instance of the then Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu where a resolution dated 17th August 2022 was reached.

    The association lamented that all the issues that led to the strike were yet to be resolved by the federal government despite the resolutions reached which included the non-conclusion of the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ NAAT Agreement

    It also raised the alarm over the non-provision of funds for the upgrade of public universities’ laboratories, workshops and studios, and obsolete equipment.

    A statement signed by the NAAT President said: “It is important to note that the Federal Government invoked the “No-work-No-pay” policy, which NAAT rejected as all due processes as contained in the Trade Union Act were followed.

    “This led to our members being owed five and a half months salary. Regardless of all the efforts to resolve the issues peacefully through dialogue, the Federal government has not paid the withheld salaries despite promises made by government representatives and a presidential directive.

    “In March 2024, a sister union was paid four months’ arrears of the withheld salary while NAAT members were not paid.

    “This prompted the union to embark on a three (3) day warning strike/ protest to demand the payment of the five and half months’ salaries of NAAT members. The three-day warning strike was suspended only after an appeal and promise to pursue the issue within a short period by the Honourable Ministers of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, and that of State, Dr. Yusuf Sununu.

    “It is now September 2024, NAAT members have not been paid the withheld salary even after a pronouncement made by the Honourable Minister of State, Labour, and Employment that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the payment of withheld salaries to all university-based unions in full.

    “Furthermore, NAAT also wishes to state that part of the resolutions that led to the suspension of the strike in 2022 was the commitment to release Fifty Billion (N50,000,000,000) Naira for payment of Earned Allowances for University staff.

    “It is pertinent to note that item 7 of the resolution of 17th August 2022 clearly stated that the fifty billion naira is for the payment of Earned Allowances (EA) and Earned Academic Allowances (EAA).

    “In view of the foregoing, at its 56th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held on September 25th and 26th, 2024 at Federal University Wukari, Taraba State after exhaustive deliberations, unanimously resolved to issue a three-week ultimatum to the federal government to resolve above mentioned demands failure which the union will have no option than to embark on an industrial action without further notice.

    “NAAT calls on all well-meaning Nigerians, Traditional rulers, Religious leaders, civil societies, and student leadership to prevail on the Federal Government on the above demands.”

  • Unilorin to admit 12,000 candidates for 2019/2020 academic session

    Authorities of the University of Ilorin (Unilorin) have began lobbying the National Universities Commission (NUC) for increase in the existing admission quota allotted the institution initially pegged at 10,900, it was learnt

    In deed Vice Chancellor of the institution Prof Sulyman AbdulKareem revealed that Unilorin would admit about 12,000 candidates for the 2019/2020 academic session.

    Prof Abdulkareem said the move was to accommodate huge number of admission seekers, particularly now that Unilorin has become one of the most subscribed citadels of learning in the country.

    Speaking at the annual breaking of fast (Iftar) with reporters in Ilorin, Abdulkareem disclosed that his goal was to have limitless admission quota but for NUC and Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) regulatory activities.

    The VC stated that the allocation of admission quota for students was dependent on carrying capacity and facilities on each campus of the universities.

    He added that the main challenge his administration was grappling with was how to provide enough classrooms because of increase in the number of students on campus.

    Abdulkareem noted that the university was currently making use of available large lecture theatres to accommodate the students, adding that he had reached out to the Tertiary Education Fund (TETFUND) for support in building large lecture halls.

    He maintained that the institution had provided sufficient gadgets in the lecture theatres on campus to make lecture delivery easy for both lecturers and students.

    Said he: “My goal as Vice-Chancellor is to have limitless admission quota but we know that is regulated by NUC, and they usually base that on facilities on campus. I must disclose that for 10 years, I was admission Chairman for University of Ilorin.

    Read Also: Unilorin to build four lecture theatres, toilets

    “So, I remember many times I carried message to JAMB and NUC to solicit for increase in our quota. Even at that, today the normal quota is 10,900 but they are going to give room for alteration and allow us to admit for a session not more than 12,000 Students.

    “Our biggest problem is the 100 Level courses that have large number of students, especially if you look at Chemistry, Physics, Maths and Biology that all 100 Level students must take in very large number.

    “Till now, we have been having problem. But lately in this session, what we have been doing is using our big Lecture Theatre, Multipurpose Theatre and having enough chairs. I thought I was doing something new but when I got to London, I was told that this is the classroom of the future. If you go to that multipurpose theatre now, we have brought in enough gadgets to make lecture delivery easy for the lecturers and for the students to learn.

    “The issue though is that we cannot go on increasing the number, and I have been soliciting for TETFUND assistance to have large lecture theatres that can accommodate large class size. But they are also advising us that when a class gets too large, it is very difficult for lecturers to monitor.”

  • Skyline varsity matriculates 82 students

    Skyline University Nigeria (SUN) on Saturday, matriculated 82 pioneer students admitted into the 2018/2019 academic session.

    The students were admitted into various bachelors’ degree programmes in the School of Arts Management & Social Sciences (SAMSS) as well as the School of Sciences & Information Technology (SSIT), based on the requirements of National Universities Commission (NUC).

    The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Sudhakar Kota, speaking during the maiden matriculation ceremony, held at the university’s premises at Zaria Road Kano, challenged the students to take advantage of the opportunity to become successful thinking individual and responsible citizens of the country through their university journey and serve the community within the legal and ethical framework of Nigeria.

    “The 2018/2019 academic year is indeed a good start for Skyline University Nigeria”, Prof. Kota said.

    He further urged the students to make the best out of the university, saying “SUN has given assurance to provide you with quality inputs, technological integration, learning resources and use internationally accepted pedagogies that will enhance your knowledge, skills and competencies with values”.

    The Vice Chancellor has disclosed that the university will provide more programs on legal studies, engineering and basic medical courses that are the need of the hour in Nigeria and the world around, “We wish to see you as a job creator by being an entrepreneur than being a job seeker”, he added.

    Prof. Sudhakar further reminded the students that it will not be an easy ride, but affirmed the university’s commitment to ensure that the students are comfortable and attain their dreams at the end of it all.

    He also stressed the university’s firm commitment to the protection of the environment and urged the students to contribute to transforming the University to green and sustainable campuses.

    Afterwards the Registrar, Mr Satya Vir Sighn, administered the matriculation oaths on the students while the matriculation register was signed to signal the conclusion of the registration formalities as bona fide students of the institution.

    Read Also: Skyline University matriculates 200 students in Kano

    Also speaking, the Chancellor of the, Emir of Kano, His Highness, Muhammadu Sanusi 11 who was represented by Dan Maliki Kano, Ambassador Ahmad Umar, described Skyline as one of the 75 private universities in Nigeria with state-of-the-art equipments for condusive learning.

    He encouraged parents to enroll their wards in the university as it is well positioned to nurture students with required knowledge that will take them to greater heights in their various disciplines.

    The Emir also urged the university authorities to train and teach the matriculating students well to be good ambassadors of the university so that they can be counted among the shining lights of the society.

  • Varsities losing character, assuming ethnic colourations – NUC

    The National Universities Commission (NUC) on Thursday said some universities were losing their universal character by assuming tribal and ethnic colourations.

    The commission said it was unfortunate that some universities had turned choice of vice-chancellorship into an ethnic, religious and tribal battle.

    Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, stated these when the Governor of Bayelsa state visited the headquarters of the commission in Abuja.

    The governor was at the commission to present documents to the ES and also to seek approval for the establishment of Bayelsa Medical University, Yenegoa.

    The NUC boss said universities would continue to have problems unless they agree to play by the rules.

    He said: “The universities commission is very pleased with the actions and activities of the governor of Bayelsa state.

    “Governor Dickson, as I said truly, is showing the light, is showing the way of how to build a university.

    “What the governor is doing is what we have been calling for and it is one of the cardinal points of our reform. We have to reinvent our universities. We have to accept that the university – the most important word there is the universe.

    “What is unfortunate for us in this country today is that many of our universities are losing that universal character and this is very unfortunate.

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    “They are assuming some tribal, regional, ethnic or religious colourations and it is dangerous.

    “We often complain here in NUC when we see communities fighting over who should be the Vice-Chancellors whether it comes from our local government or not or a federal university fighting that somebody must be from the state where the university is sited or must be from the local government where the university is sited and all these are unknown to university governance and university administration in other parts of the world.

    “Unless and until we agree to play the game according to the rules we shall continue to be bedeviled by some of these problems.”

    Rasheed commended the governor for his feats in education.

    Dickson said funding education in the state had been the most important part of his government since he took office.

    He said the state came up with a model to address the rot in education when he assumed office by establishing 15 model boarding schools.

  • Reps seek total reform in Nigeria’s education sector 

    The House of Representatives Wednesday has said the government should declare an emergency in the country’s education sector.

    The lawmakers urged the Federal Ministry of Education, The National Universities Commission (NUC), and the National Board of Technical Education (NBTE) to carry out a holistic reform that would make Nigeria’s tertiary institutions internationally competitive, and support its national Economic Development and Growth Plan.

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    The resolution of the House was sequel to a motion by a member, Hon. Ayodele Oladimeji (Ekiti) on the need to reform Nigeria’s tertiary education system.

    The Green Chamber also resolved to set up an eleven man adhoc committee to interact with stakeholders in the sector to examine the issues.

    The House also decided to have a one week education summit slated for January, 2019.

    The lawmaker told the House that being the fulcrum of national growth and development, the strategic importance of education cannot be over emphasized.

    He opined that human capital is developed for social economic and technological transformation and advancement of any nation through tertiary education.

    He said 75,000 Nigerians are currently studying in Ghana, Benin Republic, and Egypt, amongst others, adding that Nigeria loses a minimum of N1trillion to education tourism annually.

    The dwindling quality of education in the country, he said, is the reason people seek for quality education outside the country.

    The lack of quality makes the country’s graduates unemployable, he said, adding that no fewer than eight million graduates in the country moved into the labour market every year looking for non-existent jobs.

    The lawmakers noted that there’s need for urgent reform in the sector or Nigerians will keep expending foreign exchange in financing education outside the country.

    Many lawmakers contributed to the motion and they all agreed something must be done to rectify the situation condemned the poor approaches employed towards solving the educational sector problems.

    The Deputy Speaker, Yussuff Lasun said the abandonment of the sector, has crippled the educational system in the country.

    “There must be reform to salvage it,” he said.

    Femi Gbajabiamila, the House Leader, noted that dearth of infrastructure was killing the sector, “Lecturers and teachers can’t give their best in such a situation,” he said.

    Hon. Chika Adamu from Niger state, blamed government appointees and politicians including President Muhammadu Buhari and the leadership of the National Assembly for the downturn in the Nation’s education sector.

    According to him, they’re all hypocrites, who send their children abroad to school, while paying lip service to reforms in the sector.

    When the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara called for a voice vote, it was passed by a majority of members.

     

  • What FG must do to address dearth of healthcare professionals

    Prof. Usman Ahmed, Provost, College of Health Sciences, Federal University, Dutse, Jigawa, says Nigeria must establish Federal University of Health Sciences in six geo-political zones to address inter-disciplinary rivalry and dearth of healthcare professionals.

    Ahmed, who is also a Professor of Health Sciences at the University of Salford, Manchester, Britain, make this known on Friday in Abuja.

    He noted that basic sciences were the same, saying: “You can train up to 10 different healthcare professions in the same class.

    “Right from the word go in their training, they will begin to realize everybody’s importance and begin to work as a team even as students.

    “You can have an inter-disciplinary team and a discipline related team working together. That way, you will forever have harmony in the health sector.’’

    According to him, the suggested universities of health sciences should be under a National University of Health Sciences University Commission, and not the National Universities Commission (NUC).

    “Because NUC is currently training healthcare professionals particularly doctors without any reference to what the country needs.

    “There is no conversation between ministries of health and education in the training of healthcare professionals and that is why we are where we are today,’’ he said.

    To further address the shortage of health professionals and enhance equitable distribution of health workers, the don suggested the establishment of National Health Workforce Commission.

    Ahmed said the proposed National Health Workforce Commission should be a parastatal under the Federal Ministry of Health.

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    He added the proposed commission would monitor the training of health workers and ensure equitable distribution of healthcare professionals in the country.

    Ahmed lamented that National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) as it was currently composed was not the way Nigeria should be marching towards realizing Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

    He said there was a need to change the narrative at NHIS as well as the way Federal Ministry of Health was going about achieving UHC.

    In this regard, Ahmed also suggested the establishment of National Health Service through modification of the NHIS Act, adding the proposed agency will provide mandatory and compulsory public funded health services.

    He added that the proposed National Health Service should be funded through public fund and certain percentage of government revenue, adding that every worker from either public or private sector should contribute to the service.

    “Government should use at least two per cent of the annual tax every year to cover older people, who are 60 years and above, and those who are not working and cannot afford to contribute.

    “It should start by covering essential services which are easily define in the details of the SDGs particularly goals number three (health and well being) the commonest conditions that affect all Nigerians,’’ he said.

    He added that on top of the basic healthcare coverage, there should be a private insurance coverage for those who want more additional coverage.

    Ahmed said the private health insurance providers should be the current HMOs.

    He said that the HMOs should be given licence to operate as private health insurance providers licensed by the proposed national health insurance service.

    Ahmed said NHIS as it was currently composed could not be the proposed National Health Service but the NHIS could be transformed into that.

    “Part of the transformation means modifications and amendment to the NHIS Act and the National Health Act 2014,’’ Ahmed said.

  • LASU VC reaffirms fairness, transparency, accountability to stakeholders

    Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun, Vice- Chancellor, Lagos State University ( LASU ), on Monday reaffirmed that his administration would continue to be fair, transparent and accountable to members of the university community.

    Fagbohun said this at the Coconut breaking festival for the 22nd Convocation ceremony scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday.

    “You may not get all that you want from the management but do not resort to destroying the system.

    “It is natural to face challenges or step on toes but amidst our differences, do not allow yourself to be recruited as an agent of destruction,” he said.

    The Vice- Chancellor lauded the LASU Alumni Association for its presence and support towards rebranding the institution.

    Fagbohun said for a university to succeed, the Alumni must be very strong and determined to move it forward.

    He hailed the university security personnel for their effort and determination to ensure that peace endures in LASU.

    According to him, members of the university deserve accolades because they have all taken a decision to make LASU the best institution in the world.

    In his remarks, Retired Maj. Gen. Cecil Esekaigbe, President, LASU Alumni Association, said the time of crisis has given way for a time of productivity at the institution.

    Esekaigbe said that gone were the days when LASU was synonymous with notorious activities and its certificates were pushed aside or unrecognised by many organisations.

    He appreciated the Vice Chancellor for rebranding the institution and giving it a new name.

    “The testimony can be attested to with the rating of LASU as the Best State University by the National Universities Commission ( NUC ) among other achievements,” he said.

    Esekaigbe explained that the coconut breaking festival was usually celebrated during the university convocation, to mark the end of a session and usher in a new one.

    He said the festival symbolises peace, unity and development that would open a new chapter of tranquility in LASU.

    “The significance of the occasion is embedded in the mystery of how water gets into the coconut,” he said.

    The General, however, urged staff and students of the university to embrace constructive engagement for continued peace and development at LASU.

    NAN

  • ATBU secures full accreditation for 21 programmes

    The Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University ( ATBU ) Bauchi has secured full accreditation from the National Universities Commission ( NUC ) for 21 of its programmes.

    ATBU Director of Public Relations, Mr Andee Iheme, made this known in a statement on Thursday in Bauchi.

    Iheme said that the accreditation was contained in a letter by the NUC’s Directorate of Accreditation in Abuja.

    He said all nine engineering programmes of the institution were fully accredited with only one given an interim status.

    “The courses with full accreditation are agriculture, bio-resources, automobile, chemical and civil engineering.

    “Others are computer and communication, electrical/electronics, mechanical and petrochemical engineering.
    ‎
    “The only programme with an interim status is the mechatronics and system engineering,” Iheme said.

    According to him, all the programmes in the faculty of education had full accreditation with the exception of metal work technology which has been granted an interim accreditation.

    “So also the faculty of agriculture came out with full accreditation of all its programmes.

    “In the faculty of science, out of the four courses presented, only computer science and mathematics got full accreditation.

    “The faculty of environmental science also had full accreditation in quantity surveying, urban and regional planning.
    ‎
    “Also the faculty of management got full accreditation in banking and finance,’’ Iheme said.

    He said the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Saminu Ibrahim, has vowed to do everything possible to secure full accreditation for the remaining four courses of the institution as well as those with interim status.

    Iheme said Ibrahim had also assured the students and staff of the institution that all necessary arrangements had been made to address areas of inadequacies observed by the NUC.

    “Ibrahim said ATBU had carved a niche as a citadel of excellence and that he was not going to allow that standard drop under his watch,” he said.

    ATBU, Bauchi is one of the third generation Specialised University of Technology established in 1980 By the Federal Government.

    NAN