The Vice Chancellor, Trinity University, Lagos, Prof. Clement Kolawole, has identified key reforms that the Federal Government must introduce before going ahead with its proposed financial autonomy for Nigerian universities.
Kolawole recommended the review and eventual dissolution of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and a critical review of the roles of the National Universities Commission (NUC).
He identified some of the roles as permission for each university to develop and teach its own home-grown curricula and monitoring of accreditation functions by an independent statutory body.
The VC gave the recommendations in a position paper, titled: ‘The significance of granting financial autonomy to universities in Nigeria.’ Kolawole noted that while the proposed financial autonomy is a positive development, its successful implementation requires a meticulously planned strategy and the active engagement of all stakeholders.
According to him, the issue of financial autonomy for universities has been a long-standing point of contention in the country’s educational system, noting that both private and public universities have championed autonomy as a means to emancipate the sector and provide qualitative education, in line with the demands of the 21st century.
He said academic freedom, closely intertwined with university autonomy, is fundamental, as it encompasses scholars’ freedom to conduct research, expand knowledge boundaries, and disseminate research outcomes without constraints
Speaking on challenges with regulatory bodies, the VC said NUC, responsible for accrediting and standardising academic programmes, faces scrutiny for its impact on curriculum decisions and encroachment on Senate roles in the university system.
He said financial remuneration to the NUC for programme evaluations and accreditation have sparked controversy, raising concerns about corruption and compromised evaluation quality.
Besides, he noted that JAMB’s centralised role in conducting entrance examinations and overseeing admission processes encroaches on the autonomy of Senate of universities.
“This centralisation, initiated in 1977, is questioned in the current landscape with over 264 universities, many owned by state and private entities,” Kolawole said.
He said the University Autonomy Bill enacted in 2004 by the National Assembly, is aimed at providing direct access to grants, controlling resources, exempting public universities from the Treasury Single Account (TSA), and granting autonomy in staff recruitment, curriculum development, and foreign support.
The VC, who stressed the importance of university autonomy, said it upholds independence, enhances research outcomes, unlocks creative potentials, facilitates scholarship and research, increases funding opportunities, boosts enrollment, strengthens local and international collaborations, and foster cultural preservation, among others.
According to him, substantial benefits from university autonomy, include direct access to grants and fellowships, control over resources and fiscal management, removal of public universities from the Treasury Single Account (TSA), private universities access to Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), autonomy in staff recruitment, establishment of revenue-generating ventures, reduced NUC control, and unhindered access to foreign support.
The VC said given the complexity of academic work, autonomy is imperative for effective and efficient institutional performance. When successfully implemented, he said autonomy is anticipated to significantly benefit the educational system by preventing forced political loyalty, reducing interference in non-academic decisions, and enhancing job security and independence from government control.
Kolawole said: “Ultimately, university autonomy aligns with the core mission of universities worldwide: to produce intellectuals, researchers, and teachers deeply rooted in values, knowledge, truth, and excellence, representing a necessary step towards realising the lofty ideals for which universities were originally established.”
