NUC Warns Nigerian Universities Against Charging Fees in Dollars
He stressed that Nigerian law prohibits any Nigerian entity from charging in dollars, and any institution accused of doing so is actually charging foreign students exclusively in dollars.
AKACHI NOEL 
The National Universities Commission (NUC) has issued a stern warning to universities in Nigeria against charging fees in United States dollars. Acting Executive Secretary of the NUC, Chris Maiyaki, emphasized during an interactive session with members of the Education Correspondent Association of Nigeria (ECAN) in Abuja that no university, whether public or private, is permitted to charge fees in dollars within the country.
Maiyaki clarified that while fees in dollars may be applicable to foreign students due to the currency's status as the accepted unit of currency for international students, it is not permissible for Nigerian universities to adopt this practice. He stressed that Nigerian law prohibits any Nigerian entity from charging in dollars, and any institution accused of doing so is actually charging foreign students exclusively in dollars.
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The NUC reaffirmed its commitment to the implementation of the newly approved Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS) with effect from the 2023/2024 academic session. Maiyaki highlighted this initiative as a significant step towards ensuring global competitiveness in the Nigerian educational system.
Addressing challenges within the education sector, Maiyaki condemned illegal degree mills and announced successful prosecutions against individuals involved in such activities. He also disclosed the generation of a directory of full professors in Nigeria and the production of a unit cost analysis to estimate the cost of training individuals in specific disciplines within Nigerian universities.
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Additionally, Maiyaki revealed plans to license two additional universities soon, bringing the total number of universities in Nigeria to 272. He emphasized the importance of quality assurance and standards in Nigerian universities, highlighting ongoing efforts to accredit programmes and verify resources in line with academic standards.
Despite challenges such as industrial unrest, slow deployment of ICT facilities, and paucity of funds, the NUC remains committed to improving service delivery and ensuring global competitiveness in the Nigerian educational system.
