By: Goodluck E. Adubazi, Abuja.
The House of Representatives on Thursday, October 9, 2025, held a public hearing on a bill seeking to establish the Chartered Institute of Nigerian University Professional Administrators (CINUPA) — a move aimed at professionalizing university administration and promoting efficiency and accountability across Nigerian tertiary institutions.
The bill, sponsored by Hon. Pascal Agbodike (Ihiala Federal Constituency, Anambra State), and tagged HB 784, seeks to give legal backing to CINUPA as a statutory professional body responsible for setting standards, training, and certifying university administrators nationwide.
What the Bill Seeks to Achieve
According to the bill, CINUPA will be established as a corporate entity with perpetual succession and a common seal. The institute will regulate the practice, training, and certification of professional administrators in Nigerian universities.
Its objectives include:
Promoting professionalism and ethical standards in university governance.
Establishing standards for training, certification, and continuous professional development.
Maintaining a professional register for members, including fellows, members, and associates.
Enforcing discipline and ethical conduct among practitioners.
Supporting research, policy advocacy, and institutional governance.
The institute will also be self-funded, drawing revenue from membership subscriptions, registration fees, consultancy, and training programs—placing no financial burden on government resources.
‘Administrative Competence Drives Academic Excellence’ — ANUPA President
Speaking after the session, Dr. Victor Bem, National President of the Association of Nigerian University Professional Administrators (ANUPA), hailed the bill as a milestone that would elevate the standards of Nigerian universities.
“This bill is very significant because without administrative competence, there can be no academic excellence. It seeks to take university administration to the next level,” Dr. Bem said.
Addressing concerns raised by the National Universities Commission (NUC), Dr. Bem clarified that the bill does not conflict with NUC’s regulatory powers.
“NUC only observed that we should not assume the authority to regulate degree awards — which we fully agree with. Our mandate is to certify professional administrators, not issue academic degrees,” he explained.
Registrars, Administrators Back Bill for Speedy Passage
Also lending his voice, Dr. Bala Ahmed, Registrar of Nasarawa State University, Keffi, and National Chairman of the Association of Registrars of Nigerian Universities (ARNU), commended the House for considering the bill.
He urged lawmakers to ensure its speedy passage, emphasizing that CINUPA would enhance capacity building, professionalism, and efficiency in university administration.
“This bill will equip our administrators for global best practices and ensure effective service delivery in Nigerian universities,” Dr. Ahmed noted.
‘NUC Doing Its Job’ — ANUPA PRO Clarifies
Mrs. Onyinye Ralph, a fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations and National PRO of ANUPA, also praised the collaborative tone of the public hearing.
“The NUC only reminded us of areas we need to clarify. It’s not opposition — they’re doing their job as the regulatory body. We all work in universities, so cooperation is key,” she said.
Mrs. Ralph expressed optimism that once minor adjustments are made, the bill will sail through smoothly.
“There is no problem at all. The public hearing has helped to straighten out the few grey areas, and we are good to go,” she added.
The public hearing, chaired by Hon. Ahmed Munir (Lere Federal Constituency, Kaduna State), who also heads the House Committee on Commerce, saw robust engagement from stakeholders across academia, administration, and education policy sectors.
Munir thanked participants for their input and assured that the committee would incorporate all constructive recommendations before presenting the report to the House for consideration.
A New Dawn for University Administration
If passed, the CINUPA Bill will mark a major reform in Nigerian higher education, providing a structured framework for professional recognition, ethical conduct, and administrative excellence, aligning Nigeria’s university management systems with international standards.