The National Universities Commission (NUC) has abolished the award of Pass Degree in Nigerian Universities with effect from the 2013/ 2014 academic session.
Prof Abdullahi Zuru, the Vice Chancellor of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, disclosed this on Wednesday at the 2014/2015 matriculation of 4,133 students of the institution.
“This has far reaching implications on the grading system of students in universities.
“This means that the minimum pass mark for courses in the universities will now be 45 per cent, that is, D-grade, instead of the previous 40 per cent which was E-grade.
“It also means that the minimum class of degree to be earned by students will now be Third Class,” he said.
According to him, no university student will henceforth graduate with a Pass Degree.
He therefore enjoined the students to work hard to earn their stay in the university.
The vice chancellor also advised them to shun extremism, bigotry, violence, ethnicity, political intolerance and religious prejudice.
Zuru commended the Federal Government and its agencies for fully transforming the landscape of the university.
Earlier, the Dean of Students Affairs, Dr Adamu Aliero warned that any student that flouted the rules and regulations of the university would be sanctioned.
He assured the students that the management of the institution would continue to accord top priority to their welfare.
In a remark, Mr Aminu Wushishi, Chairman of the caretaker committee of the students union government, assured that the students would be law abiding.