NUC claims suspended varsity can continue operations but not admit

The National University Commission (NUC) has claimed that the seven suspended private institutions will continue operations, but have been banned from admitting new students.

The deputy executive secretary of the commission, Mr Akinbode Agbaoye made the clarification in reaction to a petition filed by Lead City University at the hearing called by House of Representatives on Wednesday.

At the resumed public hearing of the House Committee on Public Petitions, Mr Agbaoye explained that the NUC has cleared two of the suspended universities after they produced the required documents.

He added that the NUC will embark on forensic audit of the remaining institutions on the 19th of July.

The body regulating the activities of tertiary institutions in Nigeria, suspended the operational licenses of seven private universities for allegedly violating its guidelines in physical facilities and academic programmes.

In the charged atmosphere during the hearing, the chairman of the House Committee on Public Petitions, Representative Uzo Azubuike sought to know why the regulatory body did not embark on the forensic audit to resolve issues, before announcing a full suspension of the schools operational licence.

The NUC official explained that announcing the suspension of the seven private universities did not imply that the schools would be shut down.

The petitioner, Lead City University however was far from satisfied with the explanation especially with the de-accreditation of the law faculty of the private institution.

Mr Agbaoye however responded that the school’s law faculty remain unaccredited as he explained that the initial accreditation was erroneously approved.

The NUC noted that it is not interested in killing any university but described the petitioners as recalcitrant and a serial offender.

It also accused Lead City University of running post graduate programmes without approval.

As the House of Representatives has lined-up the issue to be debated, students of the affected universities are hoping that the dispute will be quickly resolved by the federal lawmakers.