By Steve Oni, Ilorin
The National Association of University Students (NAUS) has decried the non implementation of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) Amendment Bill that had since been signed into law by President Muhammadu since December 94, 2018, calling for its immediate implementation.
NAUS is the highest decision making body for students studying in various Universities across the country and in the Diaspora, with over 20 million members.
A statement by the Deputy National Secretary General of the Association, Comrade Adewoyin Tijani, said the non implementation of the Bill had adversely affected graduands of the Open University by their prevention from participating in the National Youth Service Scheme (NYSC) as well as attending the Law School.
“NAUS writes to remind the Federal Government of Nigeria and other concerned authorities that nothing has been done so far to implement this Bill signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari on December 4, 2018.
“We appreciate this historic passage of the amendment bill as this is the first in the history of the institution since its establishment in 1982.
“We appreciate the fact that the amendment bill has expunged all bottlenecks and recognised the university as a full time Open Distance learning in Nigeria.
“We also appreciate that the amendment bill also includes the incorporation of technology in the mode of learning as an ODL.
“The truth is not far fetched that the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) is a Federal University and Distance Learning Institution accredited by NUC. The first of its kind in West Africa sub-region and also the largest tertiary institution in Nigeria in terms of its population.
“It is worthy of note that the students of NOUN comply with all rules and regulations mapped out by the school management and also adhere to all terms and conditions as directed by NUC.
“Why then is the institution being denied all the rights as an approved tertiary institution?
“Graduates from other Open Distance Learning institutions globally enjoy all privileges and treatment as other conventional universities while some graduates of NOUN are denied employment due to lack of NYSC discharge certificate and the law students of the institution are deprived of the privilege of enrolling in Law School.
“We appeal to the Federal Government to make appropriate budgetary provision for prompt implementation of the bill so that gradiates of NOUN can participate in the NYSC scheme and also participate in the Law School because what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander”, the statement said.
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