FG unveils plans to begin overhaul of Accreditation process for Tertiary Institutions

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The Federal Government has announced plans to overhaul the accreditation process for tertiary institutions across Nigeria, describing the current system as “fragmented, costly, and counterproductive”. The government aims to streamline accreditation under the leadership of the National Universities Commission (NUC) and eliminate the “chaotic and exploitative system” that currently exists.

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Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, emphasized the need for reform, stating, “Universities should not bear the financial weight of a service that’s supposed to ensure quality.” He added that Nigeria must adopt a unified and efficient system that maintains academic and professional standards while expanding access and reducing bureaucracy.

The current system involves over 25 professional bodies conducting separate accreditation visits to universities, often charging institutions for logistics and stipends. This has resulted in a significant burden on educational budgets. Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Said Ahmad, shared her experience of coordinating multiple accreditation exercises, describing it as “overwhelming and disruptive”. She noted that institutions are under immense pressure, often resulting in “artificial compliance to meet impossible expectations”

The Executive Secretary of NUC, Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu, highlighted the contradiction between academic and professional benchmarks, stating, “Universities are being accredited by NUC and simultaneously disaccredited by professional bodies over conflicting requirements.”

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The Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, also spoke out against the exploitation of legislative loopholes by accrediting bodies, resulting in duplication and inefficiency. “This abuse must stop. We need a rational, collaborative solution,” he said.

After the meeting, participants agreed on a set of unified resolutions, including:

– Accreditation to be conducted jointly by NUC and relevant professional bodies

– All accreditations to be valid for five years

– On-site visits to be completed within two to three days

– Professional bodies to fully fund their accreditation activities without charging universities

– These measures to apply uniformly across all tertiary institutions in Nigeria

The government has pledged to foster collaboration among stakeholders to advance the interests of students and institutions.

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