NUC Threatens to Sack VCs Over Illegal Courses

National University Commision

Vice-chancellors of universities who run illegal programmes henceforth would not only be sacked but also handed over to the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) for prosecution, the National Universities Commission has warned.

Executive Secretary of NUC Professor Julius Okojie said the incident at the University of Abuja where three major programmes were running illegally for several years would not repeat itself.

Okojie said any vice-chancellor caught running an illegal programme would not only be dismissed but be made to face criminal charges.

He said pending when the NUC Act is reviewed, culpable VCs would be handed over to ICPC for prosecution.

"We would just not let the students suffer alone. Next time somebody tries it, not only would we dismiss the VC, he would face criminal charges because he has the responsibility of finding out through the senate whether those programmes are approved or not," he said.

He said the commission is working with the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to ensure that only approved programmes are registered with the board for students who apply through the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME).

Okojie said NUC also conducts post matriculation visits to universities so "we don't wait until the students mature into 200 level anymore to arrest any situation that may arise early."