SERVICOM decries incidences of missing scripts, results in varsities

Mrs Nnenna Akajameli, National Coordinator, SERVICOM, on Tuesday in Abuja expressed concern about the prevalent cases of missing scripts and results in Nigerian universities.

Akajameli made her feelings known at the occasion of the Formal Presentation of SERVICOM Compliance Evaluation Reports to the Management of the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Vice-Chancellor National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN).

She said that this issue was revealed during the evaluation of some NOUN study centres in the country and should be addressed as a matter of urgency for efficient service delivery in our educational system.

“Most of the study centres have high record of missing results; it was learnt at the evaluation that centres couldn’t resolve the issue.

“This process is cumbersome and tiring as some students are forced to travel to headquarters to seek resolution.

“Students also reported that the cases of missing results on the part of the study centre, makes them re-register for courses and pay additional fees, this must be stopped.’’

Akajameli recommended that scripts should be marked at the zonal headquarters instead of joggling them between centres to reduce the incidence of missing scripts and results.

She urged schools that don’t have SERVICOM units should endeavour they establish one for effective monitoring of their services.

She also commended the universities in their areas of strengths like the establishment of libraries due to the yearning of students, hanging of Identity cards by students and staff, providing incentives for hardworking staff to motivate them among others.

Akajemili said that the evaluation was conducted through customer, staff and management interviews and test research.

The SERVICOM boss scored the evaluated universities with a fair grade using the SERVICOM evaluation index, encouraging them to attain excellence.

According to her, the SERVICOM is determined to achieve citizen focused service delivery in the education sector.

In his address, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, Executive Secretary of NUC, commended SERVICOM for the survey, saying that there are 77 NOUN centres in the country.

Rasheed, who was represented by Dr Esther Adesina, Director, Open and Distant Education, NUC, said that SERVICOM should ensure they cover more of the universities, stating that national development is hinged on education.

He, however, called on the officials of the universities to accept the report in good faith and ensure quality service delivery in the schools.

“It is maturity to take criticism and unpalatable observations, take it in good faith and continue to rebrand till you attain excellence.

“I want you to go back wash your wounds and take care of it properly; we should all be willing to submit to thorough scanning for improved service delivery.

“For sustainable development to be achieved, we must keep examining our processes and policies in the country,’’ he said.

TheNewsGuru reports that SERVICOM had earlier in the year conducted an evaluation of service delivery in nine study centres of the NOUN, they are: NOUN headquarters Abuja, Makurdi study centre and Katsina.

Others are Police and Prison Study Centres Abuja, Awka study centre, Abuja model study centre, Lagos Liaison Ikeja and Mccarthy as well as Yola and Benin study centres.

TNG also reports that the report of the evaluation was signed and handed over to the Vice-Chancellor of NOUN for implementation and improvement.

Prof. Abdalla Adamu, Vice-Chancellor, NOUN, who was represented by Prof. Nebath Tanglang, Director Academic Planning, thanked SERVICOM for the report, saying that it is a call to improvement in service delivery.

He added that the report is not meant for anybody to be defensive but to sustain our strengths and develop on our weaknesses as identified by SERVICOM.