NUC threatens to shut state varsities without councils

THE National Universities Commission (NUC) has threatened to
close down all state-owned universities without governing
councils.
Executive Secretary of NUC, Professor Julius Okojie, handed
down the warning on Thursday at an interactive session with
management of Northwest University, Kano, on a courtesy visit
by the university in Abuja.
Okojie has, therefore, directed all vice chancellors of
universities in Nigeria whose governing councils are yet to be
constituted to liaise with their visitors as soon as possible.
He emphasised the need for strong governance structure in
university system, stressing that “any state university without a
governing council will be shut down.”
Professor Okojie also warned the Northwest University vice
chancellor against running programmes that are not accredited
by the commission.
He advised the management of the university to run only
programmes it has capacity to manage effectively while paying
close attention to the relevance of such programmes.
The NUC boss who also spoke on the alleged plan to scrap the
Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) conducted
by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), saying
instead of scrapping, JAMB would be repositioned for more
effective services.
He, therefore, warned against illegal admissions, stressing that
JAMB remained the only recognised body for admission of
candidates into universities in the country.
Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Mohammed Razali
Bin Agus, said the university commenced academic activities
with initial enrolment of 1,100 students and with four faculties.