The National Universities Commission (NUC) has raised concerns over the growing interference of professional bodies in university matters, warning that such actions may disrupt Nigeria’s higher education system.
Speaking at the Education Writers’ Association of Nigeria (EWAN) dialogue, NUC Executive Secretary Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu, represented by Deputy Director Nte Bisong, said some professional bodies have begun conducting separate accreditations, setting admission quotas, and initiating academic programmes without NUC’s approval.
He stressed that while these bodies are important for maintaining quality in their professions, they lack the legal authority to handle core academic duties reserved for the NUC. Ribadu called for better collaboration among agencies to avoid confusion and overlapping roles. He also criticised the trend of professional bodies obtaining legislative backing from the National Assembly without consulting the NUC, which he said leads to tension and policy clashes. The NUC is urging for a unified and harmonised accreditation system to maintain order in university education.
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