Section 3: Powers of the University and their exercise As Amended by Section 4 of the National Open University (Amendment) Statute, 2018

(1) For the carrying out of its objects as specified in section 1 of this Act, the University shall have power-
(a)
to establish such regional offices, local study centres, faculties, institutes, schools, extra-mural departments and other teaching and research units within the University as may from time to time seem necessary or desirable, subject to the approval of the National Universities Commission;
(aa) to establish community and special study centre; and
(b) to institute professorships, readerships, lectureships, tutorships and other posts and offices and to make appointments thereto;
(bb) prescribe the guidelines and conditions to be satisfied before approval can be granted for the establishment of community studies centres in Nigeria;
(c) to institute and award fellowships, scholarships, exhibitions, bursaries, medals, prizes and other titles, distinctions, awards and forms of assistance.
(d) to provide for the discipline and welfare of members of the University;
(e) to hold examinations and grant degrees, diplomas, certificates and other distinctions to persons who have pursued a course of study approved by the University and have satisfied such other requirements as the University may lay down;
(f) to grant honorary degrees, fellowships or academic titles;
(g) subject to section 18 of this Act, to acquire, hold, grant, charge or otherwise deal with or dispose of movable and immovable property wherever situated;
(h) to accept gifts, legacies and donations, but without obligation to accept the same for a particular purpose, unless it approves the terms and conditions attaching thereto;
(i) to enter into contracts, establish trust, act as trustee, solely or jointly with any other person, and employ and act through agents;
(j) to erect, provide, equip and maintain libraries, laboratories, lecture halls, refectories, playing fields and other buildings or things necessary or suitable or convenient for any of the projects of the University;
(k) to hold public lectures and to undertake printing, publishing and book selling;
(l) subject to any limitations or conditions imposed by statute, to invest any moneys appertaining to the University by way of endowment, whether for general or special purposes, and such other moneys not immediately required for current expenditure, in any investments or securities or in the purchase or improvement of land, with power from time to time to vary any such investments, and to deposit any moneys for the time being uninvested, with any bank on deposit or current account;
(m) to borrow, whether on interest or not, and if need be, upon the security of any or all of the property, movable or immovable of the University, such moneys as the Council may from time to time in its discretion find it necessary or expedient to borrow or to guarantee any loan, advance or credit facility;
(n) to make gifts for any charitable purpose;
(o) to arrange for the general welfare of children of members of staff;
(p) to demand and receive from any student or any other person enrolled with the University for the purpose of instruction, such fees as the University may from time to time determine, subject to the overall direction of the Minister;
(q) to do anything which it is authorised or required by this Act or by statute to do; and
(r) to do all such acts or things, whether or not incidental to the foregoing powers, as may advance the objects of the University.
Subsection 3(1A): Any community requesting for the establishment of a community study centre shall be required to provide 80% of both the infrastructural and instructional material needs, while the University shall provide man-power and the remaining 20% of both the needs.
Subsection 3(1B): In the case of special study centre, the bodies requesting for the study centre shall provide 100 per cent facilities in terms of building, roads and other infrastructures.
(2) Subject to the provisions of this Act and of the statutes and without prejudice to section 7(2) of this Act, the powers conferred on the University by subsection (1) of this section, shall be exercisable on behalf of the University by the Council or by the Senate or in any other manner which may be authorised by statute.
(3) The power of the University to establish regional offices and local study centers thereof shall be exercisable by statute and not otherwise.