Senate advances bill to strengthen NUC regulatory powers

A bill seeking to repeal and re-enact the National Universities Commission (NUC) Act to strengthen regulation, enforce academic standards and improve university governance on Thursday scaled second reading in the Senate.

The bill, sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, was presented by Senate Chief Whip Mohammed Monguno during plenary for consideration by lawmakers.

Leading the debate, Monguno said the proposed legislation sought to modernise the legal framework governing university education, strengthen regulatory powers and improve accreditation and enforcement of academic standards.

He said the existing law had become outdated following significant changes in higher education, including the expansion of private universities, technological advancement, globalisation and evolving national development priorities.

Monguno said the bill would modernise accreditation processes, promote research and innovation, strengthen institutional autonomy and improve the commission’s operational efficiency.

He added that the proposed law would update the composition and functions of the NUC governing board, introduce digital tools to promote transparency and provide frameworks for international partnerships and diversified funding.

Contributing, Sen. Victor Umeh (NDC-Anambra) called for stronger regulatory powers for the NUC to address alleged violations of governance standards by some private universities.

Umeh, representing Anambra Central Senatorial District, alleged that some private universities had adopted corporate management structures, including managing directors and executive directors, contrary to governance arrangements prescribed under existing regulations.

He said such practices had created administrative confusion and weakened the commission’s ability to ensure compliance with established university governance standards and statutory requirements.

The lawmaker urged the Senate to include provisions empowering the NUC to issue binding directives to universities and enforce compliance with laws governing their establishment and administration.

He also called for effective enforcement mechanisms, arguing that institutions should not be allowed to disregard regulatory directives through prolonged litigation that could undermine the commission’s authority.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio said the proposed legislation would strengthen university regulation and align Nigeria’s higher education system with global best practices and internationally recognised standards.

During the debate, Umeh cited a university in Anambra as an example of governance concerns requiring regulatory attention and further investigation.

He alleged that the institution’s managing director exercised powers over the appointment and removal of vice-chancellors without following procedures prescribed under the applicable legal framework.

Akpabio said the allegations required further investigation, warning that weaknesses in university governance could undermine public confidence in Nigerian academic qualifications and the credibility of university certificates.

He urged the Senate Committee on Basic and Tertiary Education to investigate the institution’s management structure and determine whether its administrative practices complied with relevant legal provisions.

The Senate President also called for measures to address reported cases of non-compliance before the proposed legislation came into force, emphasising the need to protect the integrity of university qualifications.

He said the committee should submit recommendations to the Senate for appropriate action against institutions found to be operating outside the law, following investigations and a review of relevant evidence.

The bill, titled National Universities Commission Act, 2026 (SB. 1056), was subsequently referred to the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund for further legislative work.

The committee was given four weeks to consider the proposed legislation and report its findings to the Senate for further deliberation and legislative action.

The bill seeks to establish the NUC as the regulatory authority responsible for the establishment, control, regulation, monitoring and management of universities and other degree-awarding institutions across Nigeria.