The Federal Government has asked recipients of honorary degrees to drop “Dr” to their names.
Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, announced this at Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday.
He said the decision was taken at the Federal Executive Council meeting held on April 30.
Alausa said the order was meant to stop decades of indiscriminate conferment of degrees for political patronage and financial gain.
“The recent trend we’ve seen with the award of honorary degrees has revealed a growing abuse and politicisation of this academic privilege.
“We’ve seen awards being used for political patronage, for financial gain, as well as the conferral of awards on serving public officials, which, as part of the ethics of honorary degree awards, should not happen.”
The minister said universities that violate the FEC decision will be sanctioned, adding that Vice Chancellors had been directed to streamline the process.
He said universities will have to seek approval from the Nigerian University Commission (NUC) before they can award the degrees.
