Senate advances bill to strengthen NUC’s powers over universities

A bill seeking to strengthen the National Universities Commission’s (NUC) regulatory powers and overhaul accreditation processes in Nigerian universities has passed its second reading in the Senate.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the development during Thursday’s plenary on October 22, 2026, after senators supported the proposed legislation through a voice vote.

The bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Tertiary Education and TETFund for further scrutiny and a public hearing.

Sponsored by the executive and presented by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, the legislation seeks to repeal and re-enact the existing NUC Act to bring university regulation in line with changes in the higher education sector.

Bamidele, who represents Ekiti Central Senatorial District, argued that the existing law had become outdated following the expansion of private universities, the growth of transnational education, rapid technological advancement and increasing international collaboration in higher education.

He said a revised legal framework was needed to improve regulatory effectiveness, strengthen quality assurance and support the sustainable development of university education.

A major provision of the proposed legislation is to strengthen the NUC’s ability to enforce its guidelines and take action against universities that fail to comply with approved standards.

The bill also seeks to establish the commission more firmly as the apex regulatory body responsible for accrediting academic programmes in Nigerian universities.

Under the current accreditation system, the NUC deploys expert panels to assess universities’ curricula, academic staff strength, physical facilities, equipment and other resources required to run approved programmes.

Depending on the findings, a programme may receive full accreditation, interim accreditation or have its accreditation denied. Institutions that fail to meet the prescribed requirements may face restrictions, including directives to stop admitting students into affected programmes.

The proposed law is intended to reinforce the commission’s capacity to monitor compliance and respond to violations of its regulatory requirements.

Beyond accreditation, the bill proposes changes to the NUC’s governance structure, including revisions to the composition and functions of its board.

Bamidele said the legislation would also seek to balance regulatory supervision with greater autonomy for universities in academic and administrative matters, reducing undue interference in their internal operations.

The proposal further provides for the use of digital tools to improve the commission’s operational efficiency and transparency.

Another area covered by the bill is international cooperation. It seeks to establish a clearer framework for foreign investment in university education, partnerships with international institutions and efforts to attract world-class academics and students to Nigeria.

The legislation also addresses funding and sustainability concerns by proposing measures to encourage diversified funding sources and improve resource management across the sector.

Established in 1962 as an advisory agency within the federal government, the NUC became a statutory body in 1974, giving it a formal mandate to coordinate and regulate university education in Nigeria.

Its responsibilities include setting minimum academic standards, approving academic programmes, coordinating the establishment of degree-awarding institutions and advising federal and state governments on university education.

The commission also monitors universities to ensure that approved programmes meet prescribed standards. Where an institution operates outside the regulatory framework, the NUC can take enforcement action within its legal powers.

The proposed amendment is now before the Senate Committee on Tertiary Education and TETFund for further legislative consideration, including a public hearing, before the bill can proceed to subsequent stages of the lawmaking process.