The Committee of Pro-Chancellors of State-Owned Universities (COPSUN) has kicked against what it described as excessive interference by professional regulatory bodies in the administration of Nigerian universities.
The committee also raised concerns over the reported extension of the Vice-Chancellor’s tenure at Osun State University (UNIOSUN), urging Osun State Governor and Visitor to the university, Ademola Adeleke, to respect the existing law governing the institution.
These were contained in a communique issued after COPSUN’s 73rd quarterly meeting in Ibadan and signed by its Chairman, Professor Ayodeji Omole.
COPSUN called on the National Universities Commission (NUC), as the statutory regulator of the university system, to be legally strengthened and empowered to exercise overriding regulatory authority over university administration.
It proposed that representatives of relevant professional bodies should participate in university accreditation exercises as members of NUC-led teams rather than conducting overlapping regulatory activities independently.
The committee said reports from its member universities showed that professional bodies were increasingly involved in resource verification, accreditation, indexing, induction and licensing, resulting in multiple regulatory exercises and mounting pressure on universities.
COPSUN said the situation had led to what it described as “accreditation fatigue” across the university system.
The committee stated: “The National Universities Commission (NUC), as the regulatory authority for the university system should be legally strengthened and empowered to exercise overriding authority over university administration nationwide with the professional bodies serving only as part of the accreditation team being headed by NUC.”
On UNIOSUN, COPSUN said it 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.
It said there was also a proposal to amend the university law to legitimise the extension.
COPSUN described the reported extension as contrary to the existing legal framework and resolved to formally notify Governor Adeleke of its position and the need to comply with the university’s enabling law.
The committee said the university authorities should adhere to the existing legal framework in line with the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2012, as amended.
It also urged the Pro-Chancellor of UNIOSUN, who is a member of COPSUN, to uphold the law and due process in order to safeguard the integrity of university governance.
