NUC Moves To Tighten University Admissions, Accreditation Rules, Introduces New Monitoring Measures

Ribadu announces stricter compliance checks, accreditation software and honorary doctorate guidelines as Education Minister demands greater accountability from vice-chancellors

By Henryrich Ojo | Newsworld

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has announced plans to tighten regulatory checks on Nigerian universities to improve admission procedures, enforce academic standards and strengthen institutional accountability. The Executive Secretary of the commission, Prof. Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, disclosed the measures on Tuesday in Abuja at the opening of a retreat with vice-chancellors of Nigerian universities.

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He said the NUC had introduced post-matriculation monitoring and carrying-capacity visits to ensure institutions comply with admission requirements and do not exceed their approved student capacity. The commission also plans to introduce post-accreditation monitoring, develop new accreditation software and establish guidelines for the award and use of honorary doctorate degrees.

Ribadu explained that the measures were part of broader efforts to improve quality assurance, governance and transparency across the university system. He also highlighted plans to develop a national artificial intelligence roadmap for universities, strengthen digital transformation and improve research commercialisation.

According to him, the commission is working to ensure that universities maintain required academic standards even after their programmes receive accreditation. He urged vice-chancellors to strengthen institutional planning, set measurable targets and uphold integrity in managing their institutions. The retreat, attended by leaders of federal, state and private universities, is themed “Enhancing Regulatory Compliance, Governance, Leadership, and Partnership in the Nigerian University System.”

The Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Said Ahmad, called on vice-chancellors to improve transparency and accountability in admissions, examinations, recruitment, promotion, procurement and financial management. She said the challenges facing university education required stronger collaboration between regulators and institutional leaders, rather than isolated efforts. Ahmad also backed the adoption of a communiqué and a post-retreat monitoring mechanism to track the implementation of decisions reached at the meeting.

She stressed that discussions must produce practical outcomes capable of improving academic quality and institutional performance. The planned measures are expected to strengthen oversight of Nigerian universities, although their impact will depend on effective implementation and sustained compliance by institutions.