Ex-NUC Secretary Urges FG to Grant Varsities Full Autonomy

The former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, NUC, Prof. Julie Okojie, has appealed to the Federal Government to revisit the Autonomy Act and consider granting Nigerian universities full financial autonomy for favourable performance.

Okojie made his suggestion while speaking on the theme, ‘The Nigerian Education System at a Crossroads’, at the third convocation ceremony of KolaDaisi University in Ibadan, Oyo State, held at the Agbeke Memorial Hall of the university.

He said:

‘’I served as a member of the University Autonomy Committees in 2001 as the Chairman, Committee of Vice-Chancellors. In the final analysis, the universities had partial autonomy. They were given administrative autonomy but not financial autonomy. If universities want true autonomy, the Act should be revisited.”

The former NUC Secretary also condemned the domination of university councils by politicians and included that research institutes should be encouraged to work with the universities in the innovation and development endeavours of the nation.

He, however, added that universities should generate funds in accordance with government policies while extending hands of cooperation to the private sector for effective collaboration in research and the provision of services.