The Federal Government yesterday issued an order to all universities to set up independent counselling centres on their campuses.

Minister of Education Professor Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa'i gave the directive at the formal presentation of benchmark statements on Student Support Services and Facilities and Guidelines for Counselling and Human Development Centres in Nigerian universities in Abuja.

Rufa'i said the practice of providing counselling centres through the education faculty should stop as they were not been given their required place in the university system.

She said the new centres should put up viable and continuous programmes to provide the required assistance and guidance to every student.

Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Julius Okojie, said the commission is actualising government policies by setting standard and ensuring quality.

Okojie said the documents were produced to ensure that universities provide the psychological, behavioural and other learning support services for students.