The need to re-organise the Academic Planning Division arose from a consideration of the provision of the Decree No. 16 of 1985 which stressed a close supervision of academic programmes in the universities for accreditation, rationalisation and maintenance of desired standards.
In view of above, the Executive Secretary, National Universities commission, in his circular letter: NUC/ES/138/Vol. V/45 dated 15th February 1987 informed the Vice-Chancellors and Campus Provosts, Federal Universities about the Re-organisation of Academic Planning Division of National Universities Commission. The circular stated inter-alia:- "At its 32nd statutory meeting, on January 6th, 1987, the National Universities Commission Board approved the re-organisation of Academic Planning Division in the secretariat for the purpose of more professional and academic approach to academic planning in National Universities Commission and the University system".
On the 20th September 1988, the Vice-Chancellor Professor A. N. Mohammed Instituted the Academic Planning Unit of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria and appointed Professor Y.O. Aliu of Faculty of Veterinary Medicine as the acting Director of Academic Planning Unit.
- Academic Programme Monitoring Section.
- Research Co-ordination Section.
- Publication, Documentation and Strategic Planning Section.
- Student Industrial Work Experience Schemes (SIWES) Unit