Senate orders probe of Tansian University over alleged NUC breaches

The Senate has ordered an investigation into the operations and management of Tansian University, Umunya, in Anambra State, over allegations that the private institution flouted rules set by the National Universities Commission (NUC).

The decision was taken at plenary on Thursday, after Senator Victor Umeh, who represents Anambra Central, raised the matter. He questioned how the university handles the appointment and dismissal of staff, and whether its management structure follows the rules.

The Senate referred the probe to its Committee on Tertiary Education and TETFund, asking it to report back within two weeks. The allegations have not been proven; the committee is expected to establish whether the university actually broke any rules.

Why it matters to students and parents

The NUC is the body that accredits university programmes in Nigeria. When questions are raised about how a university is run, it touches on the value of the certificates its graduates carry, especially for students who paid fees hoping for a qualification that will stand up at home and abroad.

Umeh warned that allowing university operators to ignore NUC directives could weaken accountability and damage confidence in Nigerian degrees. He argued that enforcement should not wait for a new law before action is taken.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio said the National Assembly has a duty to support the NUC in enforcing standards in both public and private universities. He said that where an institution is found to have broken the law, the National Assembly could recommend action to the President, including proscribing the university.

The probe ran alongside debate on an executive bill to repeal the NUC Act and replace it with a new legal framework. The bill, sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele and read by Chief Whip Tahir Monguno, passed its second reading.

Monguno said the existing law has become outdated amid the growth of private universities, transnational education and new technology. The proposed law seeks stronger enforcement powers for the NUC, clearer sanctions for violations, updated accreditation and monitoring, and a balance between oversight and institutional autonomy.

Sources differ on the deadline for the committee's work. Channels TV and Vanguard reported that both the Tansian probe and the bill were referred with a two-week reporting deadline, while Leadership reported a two-week deadline for the probe only. The Whistler said the committee was given four weeks on the bill.

What happens next

The committee will examine Tansian University's governance arrangements and report to the Senate. The NUC reform bill will also go through further legislative stages before it can become law.