The Federal Government, led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, said it is working to reconstitute the governing councils of universities across the country.
This was announced by Chris Maiyaki, the acting Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), during a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday.
Maiyaki mentioned that the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, has established a panel to create a list for the reformation of these councils.
 This action is in response to a two-week ultimatum from the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which demanded the swift reconstitution of the governing councils of federal universities.
“The process to reconstitute the councils of 61 universities is extensive. We aim to appoint individuals who are not only qualified but also have the right background to advance our universities in line with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda,” said Maiyaki.
Maiyaki acknowledged ASUU’s concerns and appealed for patience, noting the complexity of the process.
He also highlighted the need for more higher education institutions in Nigeria. With only 272 universities, the current system cannot meet the growing demand. “Nearly two million applications are received each year, but only a fraction gain admission. Expanding access by establishing more universities is crucial.”
Maiyaki outlined several NUC initiatives to enhance Nigeria’s university system. One major initiative is updating the university curriculum, shifting from the Benchmark Minimum Academic Standards to the Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS).
These new standards, introduced for the 2023/2024 academic year, aim to equip students with 21st-century skills and align with Nigeria’s goal of a knowledge-driven economy.
“The CCMAS is designed to encourage industry partnerships and promote blended learning environments, marking a strategic shift towards more dynamic and technologically integrated education.”
Additionally, the NUC has developed guidelines to improve the quality and regulation of Open and Distance Learning (ODL) in Nigerian universities.
These guidelines aim to integrate e-learning with traditional teaching methods to ensure modern and effective educational delivery.
