The Committee of Pro-Chancellors of State-Owned Universities (COPSUN) has called on the National Universities Commission (NUC) to make members of professional bodies part of its accreditation team to universities. This move aims to eliminate regulatory interference in university administration by professional bodies. COPSUN resolved that the NUC should be legally strengthened and empowered to exercise overriding authority over university administration nationwide.
According to COPSUN, professional regulatory bodies have been interfering with university governance, subjecting universities to multiple overlapping exercises such as resource verification, accreditation, indexing, induction, and licensing. These acts put pressure on universities, leading to accreditation fatigue in most university systems. The committee received reports from various universities regarding this growing interference.
COPSUN Chairman, Professor Ayodeji Omole, signed a communique made available to newsmen on Sunday in Ibadan after the 73rd quarterly meeting. The communique stated that the NUC, as the regulatory authority for the university system, should be empowered to head the accreditation team, with professional bodies serving only as part of the team.
The committee also discussed the extension of the tenure of the Vice-Chancellor of Osun State University, Osogbo. COPSUN received a report that the Vice-Chancellor's tenure had been extended by two years beyond the statutory five-year term through an Executive pronouncement by the Visitor. A proposal to amend the University law to legitimize this extension was deemed contrary to the existing legal framework.
COPSUN resolved to formally notify the Visitor, Governor Adeleke, regarding this illegality and the need to adhere strictly to the existing law of the University. The Pro-Chancellors urged the Pro-Chancellor of the University to adhere to the law and due process to safeguard the governance integrity of the university system.
The Committee of Pro-Chancellors of State-Owned Universities aims to ensure that universities are governed according to established laws and regulations. By strengthening the NUC's authority, COPSUN seeks to prevent regulatory interference and promote a more streamlined accreditation process.
The issue of regulatory interference in university administration has significant implications for the education sector in Nigeria. COPSUN's efforts to address this issue may have far-reaching consequences for the governance and administration of universities in the country.
Key points
- Committee of Pro-Chancellors of State-Owned Universities urges NUC to strengthen authority over university administration.
- Professional regulatory bodies have been interfering with university governance, leading to accreditation fatigue.
- COPSUN seeks to prevent regulatory interference and promote a more streamlined accreditation process.
