By Kwin Israel, The Sight News
The Federal Government, the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) have called for stronger university governance, improved quality assurance, digital transformation and stricter adherence to admission regulations, as the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) presses for the settlement of outstanding welfare demands.
The calls were made on Tuesday in Abuja, at the 2026 NUC Retreat for Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, which brought together university administrators, regulators and other stakeholders to discuss strategies for improving the quality, accountability and global competitiveness of Nigeria’s higher education system.
Declaring the retreat open, the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, stressed the need for effective governance, strategic partnerships and accountability in university administration. She said universities must go beyond conventional teaching to become centres of research, innovation, entrepreneurship and human-capital development, capable of producing graduates with skills relevant to the demands of the modern economy.
Ahmad also called for stronger quality assurance mechanisms, transparent admission procedures and prudent resource management, urging Vice-Chancellors to establish clear institutional goals and ensure that recruitment, promotions and other administrative processes follow established standards.
In his keynote address, the Executive Secretary of NUC, Prof. Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, disclosed that the Commission was strengthening its regulatory framework, research commercialisation and digital operations to improve university education. He said the NUC had reviewed its Blueprint for the revitalisation of Nigerian university education and was developing a 21st-century strategic plan to address emerging challenges in the sector.
The NUC boss identified artificial intelligence, research and innovation as key priorities, urging universities to build stronger partnerships with government, industry and development agencies to translate academic research into practical solutions. He also announced the deployment of the e-NUC digital platform to streamline the Commission’s operations and improve institutional data management, urging universities yet to complete their onboarding to do so promptly.
He further called for sustainable funding models, transparency and accountability, noting that partnerships with the private sector, alumni associations and development agencies could complement government funding and strengthen institutional capacity.
Similarly, the Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Segun Aina, called on universities to adopt and consistently use the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS), warning that admissions conducted outside approved procedures could leave candidates stranded and unable to regularise their admission status.
“CAPS is more than a technology platform; it’s an important instrument of transparency, accountability, and the protection of candidates,” he said.
The JAMB Registrar disclosed that the Board had received complaints from thousands of candidates admitted outside the approved system. He urged universities to comply with established admission procedures, stressing that legitimate admissions were essential to protecting students and maintaining public confidence in the tertiary education system.
He also apologised for disruptions recently experienced on the CAPS platform, assuring stakeholders that the Board was working on medium- and long-term measures to minimise future disruptions and improve system reliability.
Meanwhile, the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, represented by Professor Umar Kataya, during his goodwill message pledged continued cooperation with the NUC to strengthen university governance and quality assurance. The committee described the retreat as a valuable platform for dialogue, experience-sharing and the development of practical solutions to challenges confronting the university system.
However, the President of SSANU, Comrade Mohammed Haruna, used his goodwill message to commend the Federal Government for recent action on workers’ welfare while calling for the settlement of outstanding agreements and salary arrears to avert a possible strike.
Comrade Haruna identified the implementation of the 2026 agreement involving SSANU and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), outstanding arrears relating to the 2025 salary award and the five per cent wage award announced in 2023, as well as withheld salaries owed to union members, among the unresolved issues.
He warned that the unions’ strike 14 days ultimatum deadline which commenced on 5th October, was approaching, although he indicated that recent developments had prompted them to reconsider their position. He urged the government to address the outstanding demands to prevent further industrial action and sustain industrial harmony in the university system.
The stakeholders expressed optimism that the retreat would produce practical recommendations to improve university administration, strengthen collaboration among regulatory agencies and institutions, protect students’ interests and position Nigerian universities to respond more effectively to national development needs and global educational trends.
