NUC Asserts Authority On Accreditation Of Universities’ Programmes, Warns Professional Bodies

By Ayodele Oni

The National Universities Commission, NUC, has declared that no professional body has the power to invalidate programmes duly approved by the Commission.

NUC maintained that it has exclusive statutory authority over the approval and accreditation of degree programmes in all Nigerian universities.

The Commission stated that the clarification is aimed at putting beyond doubt the limits of regulatory authority in the Nigerian University System, and to forestall confusion among stakeholders.

This was contained in a letter dated 11th August 2026 and signed by the NUC Executive Secretary, Prof. Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, and addressed to Vice-Chancellors of all Nigerian Universities.

The NUC said it has been inundated with complaints over the “usurpation of its regulatory powers” and the “persistent issuance of directives by some professional bodies on academic programmes across Nigerian universities.”

The letter underlined that Section 10(1) of the Education (National Minimum Standards and Establishment of Institutions) Act, Cap. E3, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, confers on the Commission the power to “lay down minimum standards for all universities and other institutions of higher learning in the Federation, and the accreditation of their degrees and other academic awards,” which is vested solely in the NUC.

The Commission explained that it has resolved to publish a rebuttal to clarify the distinct boundary between its academic accreditation mandate and the post-graduation practice-licensing mandate of professional regulatory bodies.

According to the letter, “no degree programme duly approved and accredited by the Commission may be disapproved, de-accredited or otherwise invalidated by any professional body.”

The NUC directed all Vice-Chancellors and Directors-General of Inter-University Centres to bring the contents of an advertorial to the attention of their Registrars, Senates, and relevant academic and administrative officers.

The advertorial, according to the NUC, was published in the Daily Trust newspaper on Thursday, 6th August 2026, and in The Punch newspaper on Friday, 7th August 2026.

The Commission also directed Vice- Chancellors to ensure “strict compliance with the directives contained therein.”