CONUA: University accreditation must reflect actual capacity

The Congress of University Academics (CONUA) has thrown its weight behind the policy of the Federal Government emphasising probity and integrity in the accreditation of courses in the university system.

In a statement by the National President, Dr Niyi Sunmonu, the union said the practice of borrowing lecturers, equipment and other facilities to secure accreditation should be completely stopped.

“CONUA considers the integrity of accreditation fundamental to the credibility of Nigeria’s university system. Accreditation should reflect the actual, sustainable and verifiable capacity of an institution to deliver the programmes it offers, not what it can temporarily assemble when an accreditation team visits.

“A directive without clear consequences may not be sufficient to deter deliberate misrepresentation.

Government should clearly define the sanctions applicable to institutions that knowingly present borrowed personnel, equipment or facilities as their own, including whether such conduct could lead to the suspension, withdrawal or review of accreditation.

“The same standards must apply equitably to public and private universities. Where an academic knowingly lends professional credentials to facilitate deliberate misrepresentation by another institution, appropriate sanctions should also apply in accordance with relevant laws and regulations.

“Legitimate academic collaborations, including visiting appointments, adjunct engagements, joint programmes and research collaborations, should not be confused with the deliberate manufacture of accreditation capacity. The distinction must be clear and objectively verifiable.

“Government must, however, match its expectations of universities with the resources required to meet them. CONUA therefore urges the Federal Government to examine whether current funding is sufficient for universities to provide and sustainably maintain the academic staff, laboratories, equipment, libraries and other facilities required by accreditation standards.

“Universities must be accountable for the resources entrusted to them and must not resort to unwholesome practices to create artificial capacity. Equally, government must fulfil its responsibility to provide adequate, predictable and timely funding that makes compliance with prescribed standards realistically achievable.

“CONUA therefore calls for the policy to be backed by clear implementation guidelines, defined sanctions, transparent verification mechanisms, equitable application across public and private universities, and a credible funding framework.

“Accreditation should answer a straightforward question: Does the institution actually possess the human and material resources required to provide the education it claims to offer?

*Government must equally answer: Has the institution been adequately resourced to develop and sustain those capacities?

The credibility of Nigeria’s university system depends on honest answers to both questions.”