Senate pushes bill to overhaul NUC Act

Newspapers report that Senate advanced a bill to repeal and re-enact the NUC Act on Thursday, 22 October 2026. We have not yet seen an official notice from NUC.

The bill was sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele and presented by Senate chief whip Mohammed Monguno. On Thursday, 22 October 2026, the Senate moved forward a bill to repeal and re-enact the NUC Act, aiming to update the legal framework for university education.

Sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele and presented by chief whip Mohammed Monguno, the proposal seeks to expand NUC’s authority and enhance accreditation and the enforcement of academic standards. The legislation would overhaul accreditation procedures, foster research and innovation, and reinforce the autonomy of institutions.

The bill would improve the commission’s operational efficiency and update the NUC governing board’s composition and functions. It would introduce digital tools to promote transparency in university regulation.

Victor Umeh called for stronger regulatory powers to address alleged governance violations by some private universities. Some private universities allegedly adopted corporate management structures contrary to existing regulations. Lawmakers urged provisions empowering NUC to issue binding directives to universities.