Education Policy
Published: February 13, 2026
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By Emmanuel Iweh
NUC Decries Staff Shortage as Nigerian Universities Increase to 300
"The National Universities Commission warns of a staffing crisis during the 2026 budget defense session at the National Assembly."
The Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Abdullahi Ribadu, has raised an alarm over a critical shortage of regulatory personnel. Speaking during the 2026 budget defense before the Joint National Assembly Committee on Tertiary Education, Ribadu noted that while the number of recognized universities in Nigeria has reached 300, the commission's staff strength has been declining since 2014 due to recruitment freezes. The NUC is seeking urgent waivers to employ at least 200 new workers to maintain academic standards and oversee the rapidly expanding university system. The committee also criticized the poor implementation of the 2025 capital budget in many federal institutions.
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