The Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, has emphasized that the autonomy of public universities in Nigeria can be more effectively achieved if the National Universities Commission (NUC) is empowered to manage the budgets of tertiary institutions, in addition to its regulatory role of accrediting academic programs.
Oloyede, a former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, shared these insights during an appearance on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, a socio-political program aired on Channels Television. He argued that university education is a critical sector that should be administered by experts, rather than being subject to political influence.
The JAMB Registrar criticized the current system, where individual public universities are required to approach the National Assembly to defend their budgets. He noted that this process often leads to unequal resource allocation, as institutions with stronger political connections or influence tend to secure more funding.
“We need to re-engineer the system to ensure fairness and efficiency,” Oloyede stated. “The National Universities Commission should be entrusted with the responsibility of managing university budgets. Hold the NUC accountable for the administration of these institutions.”
Recalling his tenure as Chairman of the Committee of Vice Chancellors, Oloyede highlighted the effectiveness of the NUC when it was directly involved in budget management. He explained that the NUC previously operated a Universities Annual Review System, which assessed the number of students across various disciplines to determine funding allocations for the following year. This approach, he argued, ensured transparency and fairness, as it eliminated the influence of personal connections or political leverage.
“When the NUC was in charge, things were done properly,” he said. “The NUC would determine the parameters, such as student enrollment, and defend the budget at the National Assembly and the Ministry of Education. This way, whether a university had connections or not didn’t matter—funding was based on objective criteria.”
Oloyede’s remarks underscore the need for a more centralized and expert-driven approach to university funding in Nigeria. By allowing the NUC to coordinate budgetary matters, he believes that public universities can achieve greater autonomy and operate more efficiently, free from the constraints of political interference.
This proposal aligns with broader calls for educational reform in Nigeria, as stakeholders seek to address systemic challenges and improve the quality of higher education in the country.
