As part of measures to halt arbitrary award of Honorary Degrees in Nigeria, the National Universities Commission (NUC) has banned award of degrees to serving public officials.

The Executive Secretary of the NUC, Professor Abdullahi Ribadu, disclosed this in Abuja while receiving the report of a committee set up to investigate the award and misuse of honorary doctorates across the country.

He explained that the Commission was compelled to act after nationwide findings revealed widespread abuse of the system..

Committee Chairman, Prof. Kabiru Bala, recommended strict enforcement of standards, closer monitoring of the public use of honorary titles, and a clampdown on institutions issuing unapproved honours.

The report identified 32 institutions acting as honorary degree mills, including 10 unaccredited foreign universities, four unlicensed local institutions, 15 professional bodies without degree-awarding powers, and three other organisations issuing unapproved honours.