Life Goes on in Varsities with Suspended Licences

Those who thought students’ protests will erupt in the private universities whose licences were suspended recently by the National Universities Commission (NUC) might be disappointed, as the students in the affected universities seem to care less about the import of the NUC’s action. The  operational licences of seven private universities were suspended by the  NUC last week.

THISDAY checks showed that normal academic activities as well as the social life of the various campuses did not suffer any disruption since the suspension was announced. The affected universities include: Lead City University, Oyo State; Caritas University, Enugu State; Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Ekiti State; Achievers University, Ondo State; Obong University, Akwa Ibom State; Tansian University and Madonna University, both in Anambra State.

The NUC had suspended their licences citing the alleged violation of its guidelines on physical facilities and academic programmes.

The suspension of the licences stipulated that there will be no further admission of fresh students until the licences are restored. But last week, one of the affected varsities in the South-west ran advertorials on national television stations inviting students to write qualifying examinations for admission into degree programmes in the university.

Although the commission did not state the particular ‘sins’of each of the universities, but the breaches ranged from lack of uniform academic programmes at some of the institutions; inadequate facilities, especially hostels; and non-compliance with specified carrying capacity, among others.

A student at the Elele Campus of Madonna University, who simply identified herself as Ada, confirmed that the development did not disrupt activities at the institution.

She said the proprietor of the university had reacted to the news by assembling the students to re-assure them that the management would do its best to resolve the issues as soon as possible.

She said some faculties are currently writing their second semester examination, while others just concluded their first semester examination. This, she added, was not the reason for the suspension of the institution’s licence.

Another student of the university, who preferred anonymity, said the suspension of the operating licence might be attributed to the parlous state of things on the campus. He noted that the issue of a flooded campus as well as the insufficiency of hostel facilities, for instance, were sufficiently embarrassing to the status of a university campus. 

Though some structures are under construction, the student said that the university was either over populated or lacked adequate facilities, which could be noticed in the hostels.

A student of Caritas University also said the management assured them that the problem would soon be sorted out, as examinations went on as scheduled.

While reacting to the action, many of the affected universities had said that the commission did not inform them of any wrongdoing before making its decision public.

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