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Tag: NUC

  • NUC staff suit: Court fixes Nov.13 for hearing

    NUC staff suit: Court fixes Nov.13 for hearing

    The National Industrial Court, Abuja, has fixed Nov.13 for hearing of the suit instituted by one Victor Uyo, against the National Universities Commission, seeking the lifting of an interdiction placed on him.

    Uyo, treasurer of the NUC Multipurpose Cooperative Society, had sued the cooperative challenging an alleged interdiction placed on him in 2007.

    He joined the NUC Staff Multipurpose Cooperative Society as co- respondent in the suit.

    The claimant is asking the court to lift the interdiction allegedly placed on him in 2007 by the cooperative.

    The claimant also prayed the court to order the respondents to pay him all his salaries and entitlements as well as withdraw the publication of the said interdiction in the cooperative’s bulletin.

    At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, Mr Isaac Ebikwo, claimant’s counsel told the court that he had an application, seeking leave of court to regularise his processes.

    The court granted Ebikwo the leave, since the application was not opposed by the respondent’s counsel, Mr M.Ofeoshi.

    The judge, Justice Edith Agbakoba, by consent of parties adjourned the suit until Nov.13 for hearing.

    NAN

  • LAUTECH, the crisis and the unanswered questions

    LAUTECH, the crisis and the unanswered questions

    A parent whose child is 25 years old is supposed to be at peace after all, it is the blooming period of that child. The time to expand and reproduce.

    However, in the case where the child has been deprived of certain life teachings and brain nutrients, the parent would go bankrupt trying to right the wrongs such child would cause them. But if the parents of the child fails in their responsibility towards the child at one time or the other, the consequences will undesirable.

    Such is the case of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology ( LAUTECH ), a 25-year old institution that has been malnourished by her parents; Oyo and Osun states. Thus in recent time, the university is only growing in age but not in expectation! This not because the university is lacking in qualified, able and willing academic and non academic staff, nor because the student are not serious on their academic responsibilities but rather because the parents of the institution, Oyo and Osun states have ignored the institution.

    It was learnt that at present, the governments of the two states is owing the university subvention for about twenty two months. This is billions of naira. It is true that an old giant rat will feed on the breast milk of its grown kid.

    However, if the mindset of the giant rat is only to feed on its kid’s but refuse to nurture the kid to maturity, I doubt it if it (the giant rat) will not be blamed. LAUTECH has reached the age when thumb-sucking is no longer a pardonable offense but unfortunately, the institution is bereft of adequate “parental care”. Who then is to blame? You and I know the answer.

    A university of technology managed by two states whose mantra “upholding the Awolowo’s legacy” never seem to run out, is suffering hiccups and starvation, enough to have caused breakdown in the activities of the institution.

    The case, later turned crisis which presented itself as a tug of war between the managing states and the striking unions has now turned to into a wicked abandonment of the masses as not only the aforementioned parties are affected.

    The students have not only suffered, parents and active participants of democracy have had their hopes dashed over and over again. The students did all they could – organized protests that caught the media attention, even had a dialogue with the Senate President of the country , who, as expected, made promises that the matter would be resolved soon.

    Yet, the owner states claim nothing would be done unless an audit report was submitted. Some even opined that accounts audit cannot happen unless the industrial action is called off. They (Owner states) even set up white paper and technical committees both of which had their reports submitted on how to save the institution without having to go through hiccups as it is now.

    One had even hoped after that after the reports, the dear 25-year old would be cured forever. However, the matter only ended with the report’s submission.

    The state governments won’t give in and the unions, refuse to the Yoruba proverbial donkey who would work incessantly without pay.

    In a bid to kill the conflagration and save the grasses from the elephants at logger heads, a faction of the school’s alumni association started to ‘look for money’ to pay the lecturers.  They had a target – to raise N1bn in 90 days. They started ‘begging’ around to save the dying university by all means. how sad!

    Recently, the governing council of LAUTECH announced that the school shall be reopened and that activities shall commence on the 25th of September, 2017, the announcer stated that the state governments had sorted out funds for six months of the salary owed. In swift response, the unionists claim that they weren’t aware of the resumption and that their strike subsists unless their prayers are answered.

    Questions would then begin to fill a curious mind: was the proposed six months salary bailout supposed to buy us time before another strike action? What happens to the report arrived at by the visitation panel led by Wole Olanipekun (CFR), are there plans to implement these suggestions at all?

    The case of neglect by the owner states cannot be overemphasized. Save the TetFUND, NEEDS assessment, the donated and inherited buildings, one cannot point to one project accomplished by these governors.

    Is the bailout another way to sweep the plans for sustainability of LAUTECH under the carpet? Or abandon the institution completely? After all, the Oyo government has just fathered a new child, TechU and Uniosun has grown a great deal.

    What power does the National Universities Commission have in times like this? Only to ‘regulate’ the activities of universities?

    Have the NUC no power at all?

    Dr Saraki’s meeting with the students’ representatives is still very fresh in our memories, his assurances are too. Are there no plans to fulfill them?

    The KPMG audit report and the technical committee’s report are there no plans to lay the actual stance of the university before the public?

    If these issues are not well addressed, one may begin to wonder if the resumption announced by the governing council is worth the hype after all; and if we would not go back to where the issue all began.

  • UTME score no guarantee for admission – Registrar

    UTME score no guarantee for admission – Registrar

    The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) says that only a combination of JAMB cut-off marks, post-UTME, O’ level results and other admission criteria as determined by institutions can ensure candidates’ admission.

    Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, the JAMB registrar, disclosed this at an intensive Training and Sensitisation Forum on Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) for the 2017/2018 academic session on Thursday in Abuja.
    Oloyede said that scoring higher than the minimum cut-off marks did not guarantee admission but made candidates eligible for admission consideration.
    He added that institutions determined the institutional, programme and course cut-off marks and other admission criteria in exercise of their autonomy.
    According to him, the cut-off mark by JAMB is only a threshold below which no institution can admit candidates.
    “JAMB is not an examination body rather it is a ranking body. If there are enough spaces in the tertiary institutions there may not be need for UTME.
    “ JAMB is a screening body to rank already qualified candidates. It is a coordinating and clearing house.
    “The cut-off mark is not a pass or fail mark. It is not the total score but one of many factors such as post-UTME (where applicable), O’ Level results scoring, e.t.c.,” he explained.
    He added that regulating agencies such as the National Universities Commission (NUC), National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), among others could decide the admission quota for institutions.
    He further explained that JAMB introduced CAPS so as to ensure that every UTME candidate got fair treatment.
    Oloyede said with CAPS, candidates now have the choice to either accept or reject admission offer.
    He, however, advised candidates to ensure that they indicate the acceptance or rejection of admission online and timely to enable the processing of onward admission.
    He, therefore, urged institutions to comply with their advertised criteria for admission including the cut-off marks.
    Oloyede also said that Nigeria operated the same system of admission procedure with other countries such as China, Iran, Republic of Georgia, Spain and Turkey.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that JAMB in Aug. 22, at the policy meeting by institutions decided to peg the 2017/2018 UTME cut-off marks for degree awarding institutions at 120.
    The meeting also pegged at 100 cut-off marks for admissions for National Diploma (ND) and Nigerian Certificate in Education (NCE), among others.

  • NUC upgrades Moshood Abiola Polytechnic to varsity

    NUC upgrades Moshood Abiola Polytechnic to varsity

    The National Universities Commission yesterday granted approval for the upgrading of the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, to Moshood Abiola University of Science and Technology (MAUTECH).

    The approval brings the number of universities owned by Ogun State to three.

    Executive Secretary of NUC Prof. Abubakar Rasheed granted the approval when a delegation of the led by Governor Ibikunle Amosun, visited the commission in Abuja.

    He said the new university brings the number of state-owned universities to 45 and 85 public universities.

    Rasheed added that the approval had already been communicated to relevant authorities.

    The NUC boss said: “I, on behalf of the NUC, write that with effect from Monday, July 3, the MAUTECH has been recognised as the 45th state university in Nigeria and also the 85th public university.

    “This university is also the 153rd in the country. The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, the Tertiary Education Trust Fund and the National Youths Service Corps are being informed of the establishment of the MAUTECH, Abeokuta.

    “We need to invest more in education. We are particularly happy that Moshood Abiola University of Science and Technology is taking off from the current polytechnic, but it will not kill it. The polytechnic will resurrect somewhere and it will come back.”

    According to him, the number of universities (private and public) in the state has help positioned the state as the education capital of black Africa.

    He was confident that the new university would live up to expectations.

    The governor, who spoke earlier, said the state would establish a new polytechnic at Ipokia to replace Moshood Abiola Polytechnic.

    He added that the establishment of the new university would help address the various challenges facing Nigeria.

     

     

     

     

  • Okebukola for NUC ‘ Distinguished Lecture’

    Former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof Peter Okebukola, will deliver the second NUC Distinguished Lecture titled: “On the march to re-invent the curricula of Nigerian universities for improved relevance and global competiveness”.

    The lecture, which holds on Wednesday next week, will be chaired by former president Olusegun Obasanjo. It aims at identifying critical curricular issues pertaining to national needs assessment and global best practices.

    Education Minister, Malam Adamu Adamu is the guest of honour at the event, which would also have in attendance vice-chancellors, members of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), among other stakeholders.

    The lecture is being organised to set the tone for broader stakeholder interaction and engagement in the curriculum reform process. The maiden event titled: ‘Global rankings and the Nigerian higher education system’ was delivered by Professor Emeritus Ayo Banjo in December last year.

  • NUC accredits 12 more courses of Uniabuja

    NUC accredits 12 more courses of Uniabuja

    The National Universities Commission (NUC) has accredited 12 more courses of the University of Abuja.

    Director Quality Assurance, NUC Dr. Noel Saliu said in a statement on Monday in Abuja by Deputy Registrar (Information), university of Abuja, Waziri Garba.

    The statement said the university had lost accreditation for the courses by failing to meet up with the requirements for full accreditation.

    According to the statement, the courses which were assessed by the NUC during its accreditation visit to the university last year ran across faculties of arts, management sciences and education.

    The fully accredited courses include: accounting, business administration, Arabic studies, Christian Religious Studies, English language, history and diplomatic studies.

    Others are Islamic Studies, linguistics, philosophy, theatre arts, history education and social studies education.

    The statement added that the full accreditation status was valid for five years.

  • NSC seeks introduction of Admiralty laws in universities

    The Executive Secretary of Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Mr. Hassan Bello, has suggested the introduction of Admiralty Laws in the curriculum of Nigerian Universities.

    Bello made the suggestion when members of the Nigerian Maritime Law Association (NMLA) visited the NSC’s headquarters in Lagos.

    He called for collaboration between the council and the maritime lawyers to promote maritime laws and address critical matters in the industry.

    According to him, the Nigerian Shippers Council and the Nigerian Maritime Law Association had over the years had robust relationship.

    He urged the association to continue with the spirit of collaboration to enable the industry attain the hub status in the West and Central Africa sub-region.

    Bello told the visiting team that the legislators had demanded for Maritime Seminar for Legislator to enable them to be familiar with maritime laws.

    He said that this would go a long way in addressing the delay being experienced during passage of maritime laws and would also speed the passage of pending maritime laws.

    Bello said that the council being the Economic regulator was concerned with the ease of doing business at the ports.

    He said that many terminal operators and government agencies had keyed into the automotive system of cargo clearance, which had reduced the time of cargo clearance.

    The President of NMLA, Mr. Chidi Ilogu, said that the association was saddled with the responsibility of making Nigerian ports friendlier by making maritime laws more understandable by the legislators.

    “Boosting our international trade is part of our economic diversification and our maritime sector should be positioned to support our agricultural products.

    “Supporting our agricultural products is another way of diversifying the economy and for us to have a robust, efficient judicial system to support our economic development.

    “Judges and lawyers should be abreast of contemporary developments in the maritime sector,” the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quotes Ilogu as saying.

    He said that President Muhammadu Buhari during the Maritime Seminar for Judges held in June 2016 described the maritime sector as the best alternative revenue source in the face of falling oil and gas foreign currency inflows.

    The NMLA president said that the maritime industry had potential for employment and investments.

    He said that to remove corruption out of the maritime industry, there was need to have lucid, clear, simple and predictable rules governing economic activities.

    Ilogu said that the council had been directed to champion the introduction of at least the basics of maritime laws in the curricula of all schools, especially Faculties of Law of Nigerian Universities.

    He said that the NSC would collaborate with the NUC to introduce Maritime Law in Faculties of Law in Nigerian Universities.

    Also speaking the Vice President of the association, Mr. Mike Igbokwe, said that availability of manpower to handle maritime law in various universities should be put into consideration.

    Igbokwe said that government should look into some of the policies affecting the maritime industry.

    He suggested that government should also empower its agencies for adequate provisions of their enabling Act.

    “There is need for government to critically look into cargo diversion and come up with maritime policies which would enable full implementation of importation and exportation of goods.

    “There is need to look at relevant laws and for us to act on to enable the maritime industry to achieve more success, ‘’ NAN quotes Igbokwe as saying.

    The Secretary of the Association, Mr Adedoyin Afun, said that over-lapping maritime laws was affecting the growth of the maritime industry.

    Afun said that laws such as the Merchant Shipping Act and others could be critically looked at before putting it before the National Assembly.

    He suggested looking into all the enabling laws, identify the outdated ones and provide solutions, before presenting them to the appropriate authorities for action.

    An Executive member of the association, Mrs. Jean Chiazor-Anishere, commended the efforts of the council for putting many things into consideration to ensure that Nigerian ports operate a fully automotive system to reduce the time of doing business at the ports.

    Chiazor-Anishere urged the Council with the Committee constituted by the Minister of Transportation, which was domiciled in the council, to look into the introduction of Admiralty law in Nigerian universities.

    She also urged the committee to look into training the legislators on maritime laws.

    “Nigerian Shippers’ Council and the Committee have successfully established maritime law courses in the University of Lagos and one other university in the country.

    “Introduction of Maritime Law in the curriculum of Nigerian universities will help provide a clear understanding of maritime issues.

    “It is expected that the teaching of the subject, will help speed up complex maritime cases like impounding of vessels and prosecution,’’ NAN quotes Chiazor-Anishere as saying.

    In her closing remarks, the 2nd Vice President of NMLA, Mrs. Funke Agbor, said that NMLA was the only recognised branch of the Comite Maritime International (CMI) in Nigeria, to ensure that “Admiralty law is taught in universities at both undergraduate and post-graduate levels’’.

     

  • Buhari approves reconstitution of varsities’ governing councils

    President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the reconstitution of governing councils of all federal universities in the country.

    The President disclosed this while speaking on the final day of the week-long 49th convocation ceremony of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) at the Jelili Adebisi Omotola Hall of the university on Thursday.

    He said governing councils should be accountable to their offices and maintain transparency to facilitate their attaining of funds from the government’s funding agencies.

    Buhari, who was represented by the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission NUC), Prof. Adamu Abubakar Rashers, said “government has directed the National Universities Commission (NUC) to strengthen its regulatory mechanism to ensure relevance and competitiveness of the Nigerian university system. It is worrisome that some Nigerian universities are still not demonstrating adequate capacity to funds utilisation, despite the increased spending of our higher institutions. I have been informed that some universities still find it difficult to access funds from the TETFUND (Tertiary Education Trust Fund), because they have not shown adequate commitment for meeting the requirements for the release of such funds.

    “I was informed of some problems regarding the utilisation of the Needs Assessments fund for the reorganisation of the Nigerian university while some universities have not been able to meet the requirements for further release of funds. I implore VCs (Vice Chancellors) of the Nigerian universities to take full advantage of these initiatives to enable Nigerian universities to achieve their mandates.”

    The President required that the university council and management send quarterly reports to the Federal Ministry of Education to foster communication between government and the institutions.

     

  • UDUS gets NUC nod for Engineering

    Vice Chancellor of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS), Prof Abdullahi Zuru says the National Universities Commission (NUC) has approved for the institution to run the Engineering programme from 2016/2017 academic session.

    Zuru told journalists on Tuesday that the courses include Civil, Electrical, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering.

    “The approval followed the visit of an accreditation committee from the NUC”, he said.

    With the speed of repairs of roads and the collapsed bridge leading to the institution, Zuru said academic activities would soon pick up steam.

    The bridges collapsed six years ago due to flood disaster.  This affected movement in and out of the institution and environs.

    “With the speed at which the work is moving, soon it will be completed?.  As soon as it is completed, activities will be in full swing in the institution.

    “As you can see, the contracting firm has mobilised men and resources to site which is a positive indication that they are serious and ready to complete the work within the earliest possible time”, he pointed out,” he said.

    ?The Vice Chancellor appealed to members of the communities to be patient as the work progressed.

    ?He praised the timely intervention of Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal two months ago and the Minister of Works, Babatunde Raji Fashola while also appealing to the Minister to assist with the rehabilitation of the institution’s road network currently in bad shape.

    On the TSA policy, the Vice Chancellor? applauded President Muhammadu Buhari’s sense of accountability and prudence in managing resources to avoid misconduct.

    “The policy encourages self reliance?, checks impropriety and judicious use of funds especially? in institutions of learning where we have collaboration with foundations which involves grants for research. For example the Bill and Melinda ?Gates.

    “Initially, we had some problems on how to access our funds for research but the Federal Ministry of Finance has worked out measures that simplifies our activities in that direction,” he explained.

  • NUC grants provisional license to eight private universities 

    NUC grants provisional license to eight private universities 

    The National Universities Commission (NUC) on Tuesday granted provisional licenses to the eight newly approved private universities to run degree programmes.

    Executive Secretary (NUC), Prof. Abubakar Rasheed presented the certificates to representatives of the eight universities at the headquarters of the commission in Abuja.

    He warned proprietors of the universities against subjecting their academic staff to degrading treatment and all forms of practices inimical to democratic freedom.

    All but one of the newly licensed universities is located in the southern part of the country, bringing the total number of universities in the country to 152.

    The ES said the NUC issued provisional licences to the universities after a rigorous assessment exercise, adding that the commission was fully satisfied of the facilities on ground in terms of human and material resources.

    He however warned that what have been issued are provisional licenses which may be withdrawn in the event of poor performance or breach of standards.

    “What is being issued today is a provisional license with a lifespan of three years. In line with global best practice, the new universities would be mentored by older ones for the next couple of years.

    “The NUC will assist these eight universities to commence new programmes to make them different in some areas from the older ones.

    “Dictatorship in the running of a university would not be tolerated and this you must avoid at all cost,” he said.

    In his address, Minister of State for Education, Prof. Anthony Anwukah, said Nigeria needs more universities to increase access to tertiary education.

    According to him, the 152 universities in the country today are grossly inadequate to meet the demands of tertiary education.

    “With these 8, it means the ratio of the universities in relation to population is 1 for 23 million people, a challenge that must be addressed, considering the huge population of Nigeria conservatively put at 170 million today,” he said.

    Earlier in his remarks, Chairman, Standing Committee on Private Universities (SCOPU), Prof. Akaneren Essien congratulated the new institutions for scaling the difficult hurdle involved in issuance of provisional licenses, noting that all eight universities are ready for students to commence their academic activities.

    According to him, the process of getting the license took between two to fourteen years, recalling with pain the death of some SCOPU members in the 2012 Dana plane crash while on assessment of four of the universities even as he prayed God to grant their souls eternal rest in peace.

    The newly licensed private universities are Anchor University, Ayobo, Lagos State (owned by the Deeper Christian Life Ministry); Arthur Jarvis University, Akpabuyo, Cross River State (owned by Clitter House Nigeria Limited); Clifford University, Owerrinta, Abia State (owned by the Seventh Day Adventist Church); Coal City University, Enugu, Enugu State (owned by ATCOICOE Nigeria Limited).

    Others are Crown-Hill University, Eiyenkorin, Kwara State (owned by Modern Morgy and Sons Limited); Dominican University, Ibadan, Oyo State (owned by the Order of Preachers, Nigeria, Dominican Community; Kola Daisi University, Ibadan, Oyo State (owned the Kola Daisi Foundation); and Legacy University, Okija, Anambra State (owned by the Good Idea Education Foundation).