VCs running illegal programmes risk prosecution –NUC

National Universities Commission has said vice-chancellors of universities running illegal programmes in their institutions will face criminal prosecution.

Executive Secretary, NUC, Prof. Julius Okojie, said this in Abuja on Wednesday.

He said, “We are working to ensure that only approved programmes are offered by the universities and any VC that runs illegal programmes will face criminal prosecution. We are working on the NUC law to do that.”


Okojie stated that the commission was concerned about corruption in the system, saying it was collaborating with the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission to deal with the vice.

According to him, the commission will soon hold a seminar with the anti-graft agency on how to cleanse the vice in the nation’s educational sector.

The NUC secretary explained that corruption, particularly in the university sector was the focus of a recent seminar he attended in Washington, adding that stakeholders were concerned about the arbitrary awarding of marks to students by lecturers.

Okojie also blamed the government for corrupting the university system, adding that in the 18 century when the university was isolated from the public sector, it was corruption-free.

He said, “VC selection is a major issue; a VC should have the capacity for leadership and be above board. I plead with the government to appoint only men and women of honour as vice-chancellor. The university was free from corruption in the 18 century when universities like Cambridge and Oxford were isolated from the government, but town and gown and the government corrupted the system.”

Meanwhile, Nigerian students on Wednesday threatened to join in the proposed strike by organised labour unless the Federal Government paid the arrears owed pensioners in the country.

The Council of Zonal Coordinators of National Association of Nigerian Students Chairman, Chinonso Obasi, in Enugu said students would not stand idly and watch the welfare of pensioners treated as a non-issue.