NUC cancels sub-degree diploma programmes in universities

The NUC has scrapped sub-degree diploma courses in all universities
– NUC said sub-degree diploma programmes were strictly the business of polytechnics
– Universities are to focus on their primary function which is producing high level manpower for the economy
Nigerian students during a school ceremony
More drastic changes are being made in the Nigerian educational sector. Just on Sunday, October 16, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, the registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), revealed that they have scrapped the use of scratch cards for any transactions and services.
Now another major change is being introduced by the National University Commission (NUC). The commission has announced that they have scrapped of sub-degree diploma programmes in all Nigerian universities.

Abubakar Adamu the NUC executive secretary while speaking at a meeting with federal and state university representatives on Monday, October 17, announced the new measure.
Adamu also said universities currently running the programmes have been directed to begin to wind down immediately.
Giving the reason for the directive, he said it was discovered that running sub-degree diploma programmes was strictly the business of polytechnics and not universities.
“The federal government, as far back as November 2001, had issued a circular stating that such diplomas could not be used for employment or promotion purposes in the public service,” he said.

He concluded that instead of stretching their facilities to run sub-degree programmes, universities should instead direct their energy towards their primary function which is producing high level manpower for the economy, by strengthening their part-time programmes, to offer high quality undergraduate degrees and postgraduate diplomas and degrees.
According to Vanguard, he added: “The issues of accreditation of academic programmes by professional bodies, shortfalls in personnel emoluments and incorporation of universities into the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information Systems (IPPIS) and matters arising from the 2009 agreement between the Federal Government and Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) were also extensively discussed.”