NUC and private universities’ blind spots

The government’s approval of private universities, formally permitted by the 1993 Decree, has proven to be a positive development in the Nigeria’s educational landscape. This policy has provided a lifeline for thousands of secondary school leavers who could not secure admission into public universities due to limited spaces. According to the National Universities Commission’s current university-system portal, Nigeria has 182 private universities, meaning the sector has become a vital contributor to manpower development, producing graduates across diverse disciplines and helping to meet the country’s growing demand for skilled professionals.

The presence of these institutions has also introduced healthy competition, improved access, and diversified learning opportunities. However, this expansion has not been without challenges. It is increasingly apparent that regulatory agencies charged with regulating standards have relaxed their guard, allowing some private universities to operate with impunity. The lack of strict oversight is becoming glaring and risks undermining quality and decency.

For instance, the NUC has largely concentrated its efforts on academic and programme supervision. While this focus is commendable in ensuring that curricula meet minimum standards, it has left significant gaps in other critical areas of university life. Issues such as tuition fees, accommodation, feeding, campus security, and test and measurement practices remain largely unchecked. As a result, parents and students often find themselves at the mercy of private university authorities, who exploit this regulatory vacuum to impose exorbitant charges and questionable practices.

In the 2026/2027 academic session, for instance, tuition fees in many private universities across Nigeria were increased by about 40 per cent, alongside a sharp rise in accommodation charges. Beyond these hikes, several new fees were introduced, which students were compelled to pay before they could register for the new session. The justification offered by the institutions was the prevailing inflationary trend in the country, which has driven up the cost of goods and services. However, this explanation does not absolve the need for regulation. An agency of government ought to step in to gauge the facilities available on campus and determine what parents can reasonably afford, rather than leaving universities free to impose arbitrary charges. In most cases, accommodation fees have been raised without any corresponding improvement in the quality of hostels.

In some of these universities, poor maintenance culture undermines the value of the huge sums collected from parents as tuition and other fees. In many cases, parents are compelled to provide basic items such as mattresses, lockers, and even repair broken windows, toilets, and electrical facilities because the maintenance departments of these institutions fail to respond to repeated complaints.

While it is true that public universities also struggle with similar infrastructural challenges, it is unacceptable for private universities—who pride themselves on offering superior services—to be so careless and neglectful. Parents pay with the expectation of better standards, yet they are forced to shoulder responsibilities that should rightly belong to the institutions. This negligence erodes trust and calls for stricter regulation to ensure accountability.

Another pressing concern in private universities is the neglect of student welfare in areas beyond academics, particularly security and health. Reports indicate that drugs are easily purchased and delivered to students on campus, pointing to weak enforcement of safety measures. Compounding this, students are prohibited from cooking their own meals, yet there is no effective quality control over the food sold within campuses. As a result, many students are forced to buy substandard meals, leading to frequent cases of food poisoning. Equally troubling is the shortage of qualified lecturers, many of whom are overstretched with excessive workloads. This often results in missed classes, depriving students of the knowledge they need and negatively affecting their academic performance. These lapses reveal a disturbing trend.

In the United States and the United Kingdom, private universities are under strict obligation to standardize their facilities in line with government-approved requirements. For instance, food sold on campuses must be provided in restaurants or cafeterias that meet prescribed hygiene and quality standards, ensuring students are not exposed to unsafe meals. Maintenance of facilities is compulsory, with universities required to keep hostels, classrooms, and utilities in good condition, subject to regular inspections. Fire safety, electrical systems, water supply, and sanitation are all monitored to protect students. Failure to comply can result in fines, loss of accreditation, or even closure. This framework ensures that private universities cannot neglect student welfare while charging high tuition fees.

The NUC may indeed be overwhelmed by the sheer number of private universities in Nigeria and the demands of supervising their academic programmes. Yet this cannot justify allowing institutions to operate with impunity rather than being held accountable. There must be a dedicated section within the NUC tasked with gathering intelligence directly from students about their welfare conditions in private universities. Such feedback would provide a clearer picture of the realities on the ground, beyond what university authorities report. Complaints should be formally confronted, and failure to make necessary amendments must attract sanctions. These students are Nigerians whose futures are tied to the quality of education they receive, and their welfare should not be abandoned to the profit-driven motives of university entrepreneurs. Stronger oversight is essential to ensure that private universities fulfil their responsibilities to both students and parents.