ICPC seals 62 illegal schools awarding degrees, operating fake NYSC camp

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on Tuesday disclosed that the commission has closed down 62 illegal schools awarding degrees to unsuspecting students in the country.

The ICPC Chairman, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, at a Youth Dialogue on Corruption in Tertiary Institutions in Abuja on Tuesday, added that the commission also shut down a fake NYSC Orientation Camp. He noted that the actions were to tackle corruption in the education sector.

The youth dialogue was organised by ICPC for members of Anti-corruption Vanguards from five tertiary institutions in the FCT.

Owasanoye, represented by Mrs. Hannatu Mohammed, ICPC Board Member in-charge of youth, said that the Commission had since prosecuted the perpetrators.

He lamented that corruption has debilitating effect on the quality of education of any nation, noting that no nation will develop beyond the level and quality of its education.

He said that the ICPC set up the anti-corruption vanguards in schools to push the fight against corruption in the education sector, particularly tertiary institutions.

Owasanoye further explained that the anti-corruption vanguards provided students the needed opportunity to participate actively in the fight against corruption in their various institutions.

“The vanguards equip the student members with the capacity to develop zero tolerance for corruption and to inculcate attitudinal change among their fellow students.

“The vanguards also enable the students to assist the management of their various institutions to effectively reduce corruption in the education system,” he said.

Owasanoye said that apart from the setting up of the anti-corruption vanguards, ICPC had conducted System Study and Review in the University system to identify operations that provided leeway for corruption to thrive.

He noted that the study discovered various infractions in the university system, such as bribery, gratification, sexual harassment and sexual inducement, examination malpractices, over invoicing and over-inflation contract values.

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Others, he said, include, award of contracts to oneself and cronies, sale of substandard handouts to students, absenteeism, admission racketeering and certificate forgery.