Section 4: Functions of the Commission.

(1) The functions of the Commission shall be to-
(a) advise the President and the Governors of the States, through the Minister, on the creation of new universities and other degree granting institutions in Nigeria;
(b) prepare, after consultation with all the State Governments, the universities, the National Manpower Board and such other bodies as it considers appropriate, periodic master plans for the balanced and co-ordinated development of all universities in Nigeria and such plans shall include-
(i) the general programmes to be pursued by the universities, in order to ensure that they are fully adequate to meet national needs and objectives;
(ii) recommendations for the establishment and location of new universities as and when considered necessary, and in accordance with the Commission's approved guidelines;
(iii) recommendations for the establishment of new academic units in existing universities or the approval or disapproval of proposals to establish such academic units;
(c) make such other investigations relating to higher education as the Commission may consider necessary in the national interest;
(d) make such other recommendations to the Federal and State Governments, relating to universities and other degree awarding institutions as the Commission may consider to be in the national interest;
(e) inquire into and advise the Federal Government on the financial needs, both recurrent and capital, of university education in Nigeria and, in particular, to investigate and study the financial needs of university research and ensure that adequate provision is made for this in the universities;
(f) receive block grants from the Federal Government and allocate them to Federal universities, in accordance with such formula as may be laid down by the Federal Government;
(g) take into account, in advising the Federal and State Governments on university finances, such grants as may be made to the universities by State Governments and by persons and institutions in and outside Nigeria;
(h) collate, analyse and publish information relating to university education in Nigeria and from other sources, where such information is relevant to the discharge of its functions under this Act;
(i) undertake periodic reviews of the terms and conditions of service of personnel engaged in the universities and to make recommendations thereon to the Federal Government, where appropriate;
(j) recommend to the visitor of a university that a visitation be made to such university as and when it considers it necessary;
(k) act as the agency for channeling all external aid to the universities in Nigeria; and
(l)
carry out such other activities as are conducive to the discharge of its functions under this Act.
[1993 No. 10.]
(2) The Minister may give the Commission directives of a general character or relating generally to particular matters, with regard to the exercise by the Commission of its functions under this Act, and it shall be the duty of the Commission to comply with such directives.