Chidimma Uchegbu – Abuja
The National Universities Commission (NUC) has responded to allegations made on social media by Taofik Olatubonsun, claiming that the Commission’s accreditation process is a mere formality.
In a statement signed by Professor Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, Executive Secretary of NUC, the Commission described the claims as “false, baseless, and disseminated from an uninformed position.”
The NUC emphasized that its accreditation process is a rigorous evaluation system designed to ensure that universities uphold high academic benchmarks.
The Commission’s regulatory regime has been recognized as one of the most robust quality assurance ecosystems in Africa, with countries like Namibia, Gambia, and Niger Republic seeking to understudy its best practices.
The statement highlighted that the NUC’s programme accreditation evaluates individual academic programmes to ensure compliance with the Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS). To attain Full Accreditation Status, a programme must score a minimum of 70% in each of the four core areas, including Academic Matters, Staffing, Physical Facilities, and Library, and an overall score of 70% or above.
The NUC also clarified that staffing is a core component of accreditation, and the adequacy of permanent staff on a programme is a major consideration. While the guidelines permit a maximum of four part-time academic staff, equivalent to two permanent staff, any attempt to present temporary staff or falsify records will attract sanctions.
The Commission assured the public that it maintains strict ethical standards during accreditation and that any officer found compromising the process will face severe disciplinary action.
The NUC remains committed to ensuring that Nigerian universities produce competent graduates who can compete globally and urged stakeholders to rely on verified information rather than baseless accusations.
