FG Threatens Licence Withdrawal, Sack Over Accreditation Fraud in Nigerian Tertiary Institutions

FG Threatens Licence Withdrawal, Sack Over Accreditation Fraud in Nigerian Tertiary Institutions The Federal Government has issued a strong warning to universities, polytechnics and colleges of education over the manipulation of accreditation exercises, declaring that officials involved in fraudulent practices could lose their jobs while affected private institutions may have their licences withdrawn. Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa , gave the warning on Wednesday in Abuja while inaugurating the Ministerial Committee on Strengthening the Accreditation and Quality Assurance System for Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria . FG Moves Against “Borrowed” Lecturers and Equipment One of the major practices targeted by the new reforms is the temporary borrowing of lecturers, laboratory equipment, library materials, workshop facilities and other resources from another institution simply to pass an accreditation visit. According to the minister, accreditation should reflect the real and sustainable capacity of an institution , not facilities and personnel temporarily assembled because regulators are coming for inspection. The Federal Government says universities, polytechnics and colleges of education must maintain the required standards throughout the year, rather than only when officials from regulatory agencies are expected. Accreditation to Become Digital and Continuous The government is also planning a major overhaul of the accreditation system. Instead of relying mainly on occasional physical inspections, the new system is expected to become increasingly: Digital Data-driven Evidence-based Continuously monitored More difficult to manipulate The proposed system could use technologies such as geotagging, geospatial mapping and digital identification to connect equipment, laboratories and other infrastructure to their actual institutions and physical locations. This would make it more difficult for institutions to move equipment or personnel temporarily from one campus to another just for accreditation purposes. NUC, NBTE and NCCE to Play Major Roles The National Universities Commission (NUC) , National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) are expected to play key roles in strengthening the quality-assurance system. The aim is to ensure that institutions genuinely possess the academic staff, infrastructure and facilities required to run the programmes for which they admit students. Oloyede Heads Accreditation Reform Committee The newly inaugurated committee is chaired by former JAMB Registrar Prof. Is-haq Oloyede . Oloyede said accreditation should not be something institutions prepare for temporarily. Instead, standards should be continuously maintained and monitored. The committee is also expected to examine how different regulatory and professional bodies can better coordinate their accreditation requirements so that students do not spend years studying programmes only to later discover problems with professional recognition. Why This Matters to Students and Parents For admission seekers, this development is particularly important. Before accepting admission into any institution or programme, candidates should confirm that: 1. The institution is properly recognised. Check the relevant regulatory authority before paying school fees. 2. The specific course is accredited. A recognised university does not automatically mean that every programme offered by the institution has full accreditation. 3. Professional courses have the necessary additional approvals. Courses such as Law, Medicine, Nursing, Engineering and other regulated programmes may require approval from professional bodies in addition to institutional accreditation. The warning follows concerns surrounding accreditation problems at some institutions, including the recent controversy involving the Law programme at Atiba University , where affected students have sought government intervention. OGB Admission Hub Advice Candidates should never select a university or course based solely on advertisements. Verify the institution. Verify the course. Verify the accreditation status before committing your money and academic future. OGB Admission Hub will continue to provide admission seekers with verified information on JAMB, Post-UTME, university admissions, accreditation, scholarships and other educational developments. Visit: www.ogbadmissionhub.com