Over 300 out of about 2,000 programmes run by Nigerian universities are illegal, Prof. Julius Okojie, executive secretary of the National Universities Commission, NUC, has said.

Speaking at the consultative meeting with stakeholders under the auspices of the senate committee on education, Prof. Okojie said the NUC had identified over 300 illegal programmes run by some Nigerian universities for profit.

He attributed the practice to greed.

"We have indiscipline in the system because even though we have promulgated regulations, vice-chancellors are violating them",the NUC executive secretary said. He reiterated that not all the problems of the universities were retated to funding as claimed by some of the stakeholders.

Okojie also blamed some pro-chancellors who see their appointments as opportunities to make money. He, however, singled out Dr.Gamaliel Onosode for his examplary conduct as pro-chancellor of the university of Uyo.

The minister of education, Dr. Aja Nwachukwu, who was also in attendance, in his remarks called for further discussion on the issue of 49 suspended lecturers of the University of Ilorin saying that their case was subjudice so could not be discussed. He, however, assured that since the present administration holds the rule of law and due process in high esteem, they would respect the outcome of the case whichever way it is decided by the law court.

Earlier, Senator Joy Emodi, senate committee chairman on education and host of the stakeholders session, decried the dwindling reputation of Nigerian universities.She said incessant strikes by university authorities had damaged the reputation of the citadel of learning. "The frequent incidence of strike is having a most damaging influence on the reputation of the qualifications and certificates of Nigerian (higher) institutions". She said while pledging senators to halt the trend of strikes. She also assured that the senate would work with the executive arm of government to improve the amount of funds appropriated to federal institutions. She equally urged the states to do same for their tertiary institutions.

The stakeholders meeting drew attendance from the cream of the educational sector. In attendance also was committee vice chairman, Senator Adamu Aliero, Jibrin Aminu, Effiong Bob and Omar Hambagda, all members of the committee. Also in attendance was the Minister of National Planning, Senator Sanusi Daggash, Prof. Mahmud Yakubu, executive secretary Education Trust Fund, ETF, chairman of committee of vice chancellors, Prof. Amin and the representatives of NANS led by their acting national president.