JAMB Boss Pushes For NUC Takeover Of University Budgets, Sparks National Debate

Oloyede, a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, shared his views during an interview on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, broadcast on Channels Television. He stressed that university education is a sensitive sector that should be managed by professionals, free from political interference.

Criticizing the current system where universities lobby the National Assembly for budget approvals, Oloyede argued that this method favors institutions with stronger political ties rather than addressing genuine academic needs.

NUC Should Manage University Finances

“We need to rethink the current funding structure. The National Universities Commission (NUC) should be solely responsible for managing university budgets. Hold them accountable for university administration,” Oloyede stated.

He recalled his tenure as Chairman of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors, during which the NUC had a direct role in overseeing university finances. According to him, true university autonomy could be achieved if the NUC were entrusted with coordinating funding, eliminating the need for individual institutions to defend their budgets before lawmakers.

“Right now, every university approaches the National Assembly to defend their budgets, and the more influence they wield, the more favorable the outcomes,” he added.

Advocating Data-Driven Budgeting

Oloyede highlighted that under the NUC’s budget management, funding allocations were based on data-driven criteria, such as student enrollment across various disciplines. This ensured equitable distribution of resources, prioritizing actual institutional needs over political lobbying.