From Edem Archibong, in Calabar
The National University Commission, NUC, has reaffirmed that it possesses statutory authority and power to approve and accredit degree programmes in all Nigerian universities and that such responsibility is not vested upon any professional bodies.
Therefore, no agency or institution can invalidate any programmes duly approved by the Commission, the NUC insists.
This information is contained in a letter dated 11th August,2026 signed by the Executive Secretary of National University Commission, Professor Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu and addressed to the Vice -Chancellors of all Universities in Nigeria.
The Commission categorically stated that complaints have been received from some professional bodies over the claim of “usurpation of its regulatory Powers”, and that the subsequent “persistent issuance of directives by these bodies on academic programmes across Nigerian Universities” is illegal.
Professor Ribadu cited Section 10(1) of the Education (National Minimum Standards and Establishment of Institutions) Act, Cap. E3. Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 which stated that the power to “lay down minimum standards for all Universities and other Institutions of higher learning in the Federation and accreditation of their degrees/ academic awards is vested solely on the National University Commission.
For this reason, the NUC explained that they have decided to publish a rebuttal to enable clarification of the distinctive boundary existing between its academic accreditation mandate and that of the post -graduation practice -licensing mandate of professional regulatory bodies.
The NUC therefore drew the attention of the Universities Vice – Chancellors and Directors-General of Inter-University Centres to bring the contents of an advertorial to the attention of their Registrars, Senates and other relevant academic and administrative officers to the published advertorial in both Daily Trust Newspaper of Thursday, 6th August 2026 and The Punch Newspaper of Friday, 7th August,2026 respectively.
However, the essence of this clarification by the NUC is to ensure that the limits of the professional regulatory bodies are not doubted by the different stakeholders as this professional bodies can’t disapproved, de – accredited or otherwise invalidate any Programmes duly accredited by the National University Commission.
Ends
