Why NUC lifts suspension on 3 varsities.

Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Julius Okojie has explained the reasons for the restoration of operational licences of Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU), Ikeji-Arakeji, Osun State; Achievers University, Owo, Ondo State and Tansian University, Umunya, Anambra State.
According to Okojie, the restoration was sequel to the actions taken by the affected universities to rectify the infrastructure that led to the suspension of their operational licences.
JABU’s suspension, he noted, was lifted, following its withdrawal of the advertised postgraduate programmes, as well as the stoppage of both the part-time and Bridge programmes, as directed by NUC, among other issues.
A letter from the NUC Management to the university, dated 16th July, 2012, reads in part: “The Commission is satisfied with the actions so far taken by the university, as well as the assurances of the Vice-Chancellor and the Board of Trustees during our interactions and verification of documents.”

Prof Okojie, NUC Executive Secretary

He added: “The suspension of operational licence of Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Ikeji-Arakeji, Osun State has been lifted with effect from 16th July, 2012. The Commission, however, stressed that it would continue to monitor the university’s implementation of the agreed actions, including full compliance with other regulatory guidelines.”
On Achievers University licence restoration, Okojie explained that NUC lifted the suspension on 17th July, 2012 because the commission was satisfied with the conditions that led to the earlier suspension. Before the suspension was lifted, he said, Achievers University made representation to the Commission by the Board of Trustees and principal officers of the university, pledging to respect the functions of the different organs of the university as enshrined in the university’s laws and stoppage of the Bridge programme pending clearance with the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
In the same vein, Okojie reiterated that Tansian University’s suspension was lifted with effect from 2nd August, 2012 having taken actions that include compliance with the Commission’s directive not to graduate students enrolled illegally in part- time programmes before the university was licensed in 2007 as evident in the convocation brochure.
According to the NUC boss, other actions taken by Tansian include reconstituting the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the institution in line with the Commission’s directive which stipulates that an old member of the BOT be appointed acting chairman, while the names of the two persons replacing the two erstwhile members be forwarded to the State Security Service for security clearance.
Moreover, the proprietor of the institution, Very Rev. Msgr. J.B. Akam who has been Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council, has been mandated to leave and be replaced by Professor Pete Uzoegbu as the new Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council.
”An old member of the BOT be appointed acting chairman, while the names of the two persons replacing the two erstwhile members be forwarded to the State Security Service for security clearance and removal of the proprietor (Very Rev. Msgr. J.B.Akam) as Pro-Chancellor; Chairman of Council and the reconstitution of the university’s Governing Council with the appointment of Professor Pete Uzoegbu as the new Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council.”
In a letter conveying the decision, the Commission said it shall soon send a team to conduct a forensic audit covering all ramifications of the university’s operations and shall continue to monitor the university’s implementation of the agreed actions and continuous compliance with the Commission’s extant guidelines and regulations.
The forensic audit, which begins next week, he noted, will cover all the universities that had their licences suspended. These include Madonna University, Okija; Achiever’s University, Owo; Tansian University, Umunya; Caritas University, Amorji-Nike, Lead City University, Ibadan; Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Ikeji-Arakeji and Obong University.