NUC suspends part-time programme in varsities THE National Universities Commission (NUC) has announced the suspension of all

p art-time programmes run by universities in Nigeria. Executive Secretary of the commission, Professor Julius Okojie, briefing newsmen in Abuja on Monday said part-time programmes had been abused by universities. He said the decision was aimed at rationalising the programmes so as to bring th em in line with global best practices and standards. Okojie said the suspension became imperative in view of the fact that some unive rsities run part-time programmes illegally and some other cases the institutions have over-bloated population in the admission process. He disclosed that when the ban would eventually be lifted, admission to part-tim e programme would not exceed 20 per cent intake, adding that lectures for all pa rt-time programmes would be restricted to university campuses only. He said: For now, all part-time programmes are suspended, we are going to streamlin e them. In effect, we should not have more than 20 per cent of the total student s population on part-time programmes. All part-time programmes must be located on campus, we don't want satellite campuse s again. He stressed that regulation was the major part of the commission's activities an d NUC would not hesitate to wield the big stick on any defaulting institution. Please note that the suspension takes effect from 2012/2013 admission and theref ore will not affect those already admitted into the programmes.