Varsity programmes: FG bans professional bodies from accreditation

Varsity programmes: FG bans professional bodies from accreditation

Worried by the uncoordinated accreditation exercise by the professional bodies in the Nigerian University System (NUS), the Federal Government has banned some of them from carrying out the activities.   

Before the ban, various professional bodies independently carried out accreditation exercises in both public and private universities, polytechnics and colleges of education in the country.

In a letter, dated May 20, 2025, by the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC) to all vice chancellors in the country, the commission announced the decision of the Minister of Education.

The one-page letter signed by the acting Director, Executive Secretary’s Office, Jubril Abu Momoh and titled: “Re: Stoppage of Multiple Accreditation of Academic Programmes by Professional Bodies in Nigerian Universities’’ asked VCs to note the directive and take necessary action.

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The letter reads: “The National Universities Commission is in receipt of the letter, Ref.FME/DUE/206/T/191 and dated 9^th May from the Federal Ministry of Education informing it of the ministry’s observation of the increasing trend of multiple accreditation of academic programmes in Nigerian universities by various professional bodies, independent of the NUC.”

The letter explained that the education minister has approved that, henceforth, all professional bodies would no longer be allowed to conduct independent accreditation of academic programmes in Nigerian universities.

The government, however, granted waivers to seven professional bodies to continue their regulatory activities in collaboration with the NUC.

The seven regulatory bodies are the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN); Council of Legal Education of Nigeria (CLE); Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria; Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN); Veterinary Council of Nigeria; Council of Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) and Architects Registrartion Council of Nigeria.

Varsity programmes: FG bans professional bodies from accreditation