FG stops diploma programmes in varsities 'To reduce tenure of varsity, poly registrars

The Federal Government has stopped universities in the country from running National Diploma (ND) programmes, urging them to adhere strictly to their approved mandates of awarding degrees and higher degrees.It has equally warned vice chancellors of federal universities against violation of the White Paper released and distributed to the institutions on the 2011 visitation panel.Minister of Education, Professor Ruqayyatu Rufa'i, who spoke at the weekend in Abuja at the public presentation of the government White Paper, said the White Paper gave far-reaching recommendations on how to deal with the rot in the nation's university system.She also said vice chancellors and members of the Governing Councils would henceforth be held accountable for their actions in university management.The minister said: 'Universities must focus on their approved mandates of awarding degrees and higher degrees while they leave the award of NCE, National Diploma and Higher National Diploma to the Polytechnics and colleges of education.'Some universities have also veered into areas that are clearly outside their competence. It is foolhardy for a University of Agriculture to float programmes in Law and Management Studies. NUC has been directed to invoke its statutory powers to ensure compliance.' Rufa'i also frowned on overshooting the carrying capacity of universities, saying they must adhere to their approved carrying capacities to ensure standards and avoid overcrowding of classrooms which put unnecessary pressure on available facilities.Meanwhile, principal officers of federal tertiary institutions, which include registrar, bursar and librarian, will now spend one term of five years instead of two terms in office.This was contained in the proposed 'Amendments of Tertiary Institutions Act' 2012 recently passed by the National Assembly, a copy of which was made available to the Nigerian Tribune.The bill, which would be signed into law by President Goodluck Jonathan any moment from now, also pegged the retirement age of the officers at 65 instead of the former 60 years.Academic staff in the cadre of professor would retire at the age of 70 instead of the former 65 years if the bill is finally signed into law.According to the bill, government will no longer consider the 35 years of service for the three principal officers having pegged their retirement age at 65 years.The lawmakers retained two terms for rectors and provosts of polytechnics and colleges of education.Though the bill stipulates that government may add one year of service to any principal officer of the university that performed excellently during his one-term tenure in office, his retirement age will remain 65 years.
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