Reps inquiry reveals law program termination at NOUN

The House of Representatives has taken a decisive step by summoning key figures, including the Acting Executive Secretary of the National University Commission (NUC), Director General, Council of Legal Education, heads of Nigeria Law School, Chairman of the Board of Benchers, and the Vice Chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), to address the termination of the law program at NOUN.

This development unfolded after a meeting between NOUN’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olufemi Peters, and distressed final-year law students, who engaged in discussions with Rep. Abubakar Fulata, Chairman of the House Committee on University Education, in Abuja.

The termination, allegedly carried out by NOUN, claimed to be in accordance with the directive of the Council of Legal Education. Rep. Abubakar Fulata emphasized the need for collaboration among stakeholders, urging the Minister of Education and other relevant agencies to combat challenges affecting the education system, including strikes, insecurity, inadequate funding, and infrastructural deficiencies.

Fulata proposed addressing these issues through innovative methods and reinforcing existing ones, emphasizing the importance of strategic planning and proper allocation of funds for infrastructure maintenance in both basic and tertiary education sectors.

Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, acknowledged the significant challenges facing the education sector, citing a learning crisis, a high number of out-of-school children, and the security risk posed by graduates lacking essential skills. He highlighted the deficiencies in technical education, where polytechnics lack necessary equipment to provide essential skills.

As the stakeholders prepare to testify before the House of Representatives, the inquiry seeks to shed light on the circumstances surrounding the termination of the law program at NOUN and explore potential solutions to enhance the education system in Nigeria.