The Federal Government has approved a comprehensive set of guidelines regulating the award and use of honorary doctorates, as part of efforts to restore credibility and integrity to the university system.

The new policy, approved by the Federal Executive Council, introduces strict rules governing eligibility, nomination, conferment, usage and revocation of honorary doctoral degrees awarded by Nigerian universities.

The development was announced in a statement signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, Folasade Boriowo, on Wednesday.

According to the statement, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, said the guidelines were introduced to address growing concerns over the abuse, commercialisation and misuse of honorary academic awards.

Alausa noted that the guidelines were developed by the National Universities Commission and later approved by the FEC.

“The Federal Government has approved comprehensive guidelines for the award and use of honorary doctorate degrees in Nigeria to strengthen academic integrity, transparency, and the credibility of the university system.

“The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, disclosed that the policy addresses concerns over abuse, commercialisation, and misuse of honorary awards.

“The guidelines were developed by the National Universities Commission and approved by the Federal Executive Council.

“The framework sets clear rules on eligibility, nomination, approval, conferment, usage, and revocation of honorary doctorate degrees,” the statement read.

According to the minister, only universities that have successfully graduated their first set of Doctor of Philosophy students will be eligible to confer honorary doctoral degrees.

He added that institutions are restricted to awarding a maximum of three honorary doctorates during each convocation ceremony.

Alausa also disclosed that all honorary doctorates must bear the designation ‘Honoris Causa’ and that recipients would no longer be allowed to use the title ‘Dr’ solely based on receiving an honorary award.

To ensure compliance with the new regulations, the government has established oversight mechanisms, including the creation of a Special Fraud Unit under the NUC to monitor adherence to the guidelines.

Under the policy, universities are required to publicly disclose the names of honorary degree recipients, organise orientation programmes for awardees and establish procedures for the revocation of awards where necessary.

“The policy restricts eligibility to approved universities that have graduated their first PhD set and limits awards to a maximum of three per convocation.

“All honorary degrees must carry the designation ‘Honoris Causa,’ and recipients are prohibited from using the title ‘Dr.’ The guidelines also establish oversight mechanisms, including a Special Fraud Unit under the NUC to monitor compliance.

“Universities are required to publish recipients’ names, provide orientation to awardees, and implement revocation procedures where necessary,” it stated.

The minister warned that institutions that fail to comply with the guidelines would face sanctions.

“The Federal Government directed strict compliance, warning that violations may attract sanctions including suspension of accreditation activities and dissolution of governing councils,” the statement added.

The approval follows efforts by the NUC to curb the misuse and indiscriminate conferment of honorary doctorate degrees within the university system.

In February, the commission introduced the guidelines regulating the award and use of honorary doctorates, citing concerns over growing abuse of the honours and the activities of institutions and organisations without legal authority to confer them.

The NUC said the guidelines were designed to protect academic standards, strengthen transparency and preserve the credibility of universities. It also warned that institutions found violating the provisions would face regulatory sanctions.