The National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC) have commenced their joint operation to crack down all illegal degree-awarding institutions in the country.
Already, 41 illegal universities has been closed down nationwide.
Already, 41 illegal universities has been closed down nationwide.
We gathered that there are 67 illegal institutions in Nigeria and the exercise which includes closing and seizure of their properties, making an arrest and prosecution will focus on 41 of them that have visible addresses.
The Chairman of ICPC, Mr Ekpo Nta who disclosed this in a press conference in Abuja on the menace of illegal universities in Nigeria, said they had obtained warrant of a competent court of jurisdiction to effect the arrest and prosecution of operators of illegal institutions in the country.
Represented by the Chairman of ICPC/NUC Task Team, Prof. Olu Aina, Nta revealed that there were about 100 operatives positioned in the various zones of the country to carry out the exercise, noting that the commission relied on section 37 of its enabling Act of 2000, to carry out the exercise.
According to him, “ICPC has commenced a nation-wide operation to seal the premises of identified illegal ‘universities’, seize their properties, make arrests, prosecute and execute such other actions it deems fit.
This action, is the first in the series of implementing the outcome of an ongoing ICPC/NUC University System Study and Review (USSR), for which ICPC sought and obtained a Federal High Court warrant to crack down on illegal degree-awarding mills in Nigeria.
An Inter-agency Task Team comprising ICPC, the National Universities Commission, the Police, the State Security Services and the Nigeria Civil Defence Corps will continue the exercise until all corrupt practices and impunity associated with the physical existence of such illegal activities in sectors like education in Nigeria.
The universities being closed down were established in contravention of the law which states that any application for the establishment of a university must be done through the National Universities Commission.
These unaccredited institutions, apart from extorting huge sums of money from unsuspecting Nigerians, are manned by unqualified personnel and operate in makeshift structures and poor environment that cannot qualify our youths both in learning and character for the award of recognised university degree. In addition, students of these institutions are not admitted through JAMB, neither are they qualified or considered for the NYSC.
As a result of all these deficiencies, the so-called students of these illegal outfits are not equipped for employment in the public or private sectors.
In the end, certificates obtained from such institutions become useless, and the period of study becomes a monumental waste of precious time.
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