The Senate has passed for second reading a bill seeking to repeal and re-enact the National Universities Commission, NUC, Act to strengthen the regulation of university education.
The bill, sponsored by Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, APC, Ekiti Central, seeks to update the existing law to address the proliferation of private universities, technological advancement and the internationalisation of education.
Leading the debate, Bamidele said the proposed legislation would strengthen the NUC’s regulatory powers, improve accreditation and enforce minimum academic standards.
He said it would provide sanctions for institutions that violate regulations, modernise the commission’s governance structure and promote research, innovation and institutional autonomy.
Contributing, Senator Victor Umeh (NDC, Anambra Central) called for stronger legal powers for the NUC to address alleged irregularities in the management of private universities.
Umeh expressed concern that some institutions operate corporate structures that contradict provisions of the law and allegedly ignore the commission’s directives.
In his remarks, Senate President Godswill Akpabio stressed the need to empower the National Assembly to support the NUC in enforcing compliance.
Akpabio suggested that where a university persistently fails to comply with the commission’s directives, appropriate action, including a recommendation to the President for its proscription, should be considered within the framework of the law.
The Senate adopted the bill for second reading and referred it for further legislative consideration.
The proposed law is expected to strengthen regulatory oversight, promote accountability and improve the quality of university education in Nigeria.
