UI Hosts 3rd Quarter 2026 NUC-PSC SERVICOM Meeting, Unveils Revised Service Charter

The University of Ibadan has hosted the 3rd Quarter 2026 meeting of the National Universities Commission-Parastatal Committee (NUC-PSC) on SERVICOM, bringing together SERVICOM focal officers from universities across Nigeria to deliberate on effective service delivery within the university system.

The quarterly meeting provided an opportunity for participants to exchange ideas, share institutional experiences and examine the roles of SERVICOM officers in implementing the mandate of the initiative across Nigerian universities.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic, University of Ibadan, Professor Juwon T. Arotiba, who represented the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kayode O. Adebowale, reaffirmed the institution's commitment to accountability, transparency and excellence in service delivery.

Professor Arotiba said the university had taken significant steps towards strengthening its service delivery mechanisms through SERVICOM, adding that the principles of the initiative had become part of the institution's organisational culture.

He noted that the university was continuously working to make its processes more efficient and responsive while ensuring that service standards were clearly established and communicated.

The DVC acknowledged, however, that achieving service excellence was an ongoing process that came with challenges, including conflict management, setbacks and changing expectations among stakeholders.

He said the university was therefore making concerted efforts to strengthen the capacity of its staff to deliver services in accordance with contemporary and global best practices.

Professor Arotiba described the University's hosting of the meeting as an honour and an opportunity for stakeholders in the Nigerian university system to assess their progress, exchange experiences and develop practical strategies for improving service delivery.

He highlighted the special place of the University of Ibadan in Nigeria's higher education history, noting that the institution was established in 1948 as the country's first university.

According to him, the university remained proud of its heritage while recognising the responsibility associated with its pioneering status, particularly its role in maintaining high standards of academic excellence and service delivery.

Professor Arotiba explained that SERVICOM was established by the Federal Government in 2004 to promote effective and efficient service delivery across ministries, departments and agencies.

He added that the NUC-PSC SERVICOM Committee, established in 2012, had created an avenue for universities to network, exchange ideas and share experiences on improving service delivery.

The DVC urged participants to utilise the quarterly meeting to identify areas requiring improvement and develop practical and sustainable solutions to identified challenges.

In a speech delivered on his behalf by the Director, Reforms Coordination and Service Improvement Department, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr Anthony Ogwo, the Minister of Education, Hon. Tunji Maruf Alausa, CON, called on Nigerian universities to strengthen their service delivery systems and ensure that service charters produce measurable improvements in the experiences of students, staff and other stakeholders.

The Minister explained that a service charter represents an institution's commitment to providing services efficiently, effectively and within specified timelines. He stressed that the document should not be treated merely as an item to be launched or commissioned.

He urged universities to ensure that members of the public understand the services available to them and know the appropriate channels through which requests can be made.

He also encouraged participating institutions to comply fully with the provisions of their respective service charters and called on service delivery officers, through their university managements, to disseminate the knowledge acquired from the meeting to offices, departments and faculties.

The Chief Executive Officer of SERVICOM, Office of the President, Abuja, Mrs Helen Lawal, also urged universities to move beyond simply publishing service charters and ensure that the commitments contained in them result in tangible improvements in the experiences of students, staff and other stakeholders.

She noted that universities play a critical role in human capital development, research, innovation and national transformation, making it important for them to demonstrate leadership not only in academic excellence but also in service delivery.

Mrs Lawal described the launch of the reviewed Service Charter as a renewed commitment by the University of Ibadan to the people it serves.

She explained that the revised document sets out service standards, timelines, channels for obtaining information and seeking redress, as well as the responsibilities of service providers and recipients.

The SERVICOM CEO stressed, however, that the effectiveness of a Service Charter should be measured by the extent to which its commitments are implemented rather than by its publication.

She urged stakeholders to regard the document as a management instrument for continuous improvement in service delivery rather than simply a requirement for regulatory compliance.

Mrs Lawal further said complaints and feedback from students and other stakeholders should be treated as useful sources of information for identifying weaknesses and improving institutional processes.

She commended the National Universities Commission for organising the engagement and expressed appreciation to the management of the University of Ibadan for hosting the meeting.

Speaking on behalf of the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Professor Abdullahi Yusuf Ribadu, the Chairman of the NUC-PSC, Mr Iliyasu Musa, appreciated the management of the University of Ibadan for approving the review of the institution's Service Charter.

The meeting featured the launch of the revised University of Ibadan Service Charter by the Acting National Coordinator/Chief Executive Officer of SERVICOM, Mrs Helen Lawal.

Awards in different categories were also presented to deserving members of staff of the university in recognition of their contributions to service delivery.

A courtesy visit was earlier paid to the Vice-Chancellor as part of activities marking the meeting.