Date: March 17, 2024
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Akwa Ibom State Axis has expressed its dissatisfaction and raised concerns over the failed/fraud detected comments in the disbursement of the state bursary. In a press release issued by Comr. Emmanuel Peter Obong, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of NANS Akwa Ibom State Axis, the organization criticized the flawed system and threatened to take action if the issues were not addressed promptly.
According to the press release, the NANS leadership highlighted several key points of concern:
1. System Accusing Students of Fraud: NANS expressed its disappointment that the system was falsely identifying students as fraudsters based on their documents and means of identification. This accusation tarnishes the reputation of the affected students and undermines their right to receive financial support.
2. Inconsistent Registration Numbers: The organization questioned the significant difference in the registration numbers within a short period. It pointed out that over 56,000 students registered between November 20 and December 4, 2023, while only 9,108 students registered in the following three months. NANS demanded an explanation for this inconsistency.
3. Single Registration Limit: NANS criticized the system’s limitation of allowing only one-time registration, labeling any subsequent registrations as fraudulent. This restriction is deemed unfair and not conducive to accommodating genuine cases where students may need to update their information.
4. Lack of Efficiency: The organization expressed concerns about the efficiency of the system or the operators responsible for its management. It stated that the closure of the registration period had passed, yet many legitimate students were still awaiting payment.
5. Non-Inclusion of NANS: NANS claimed that the Directorate responsible for the bursary disbursement did not involve or acknowledge the organization during their meetings on the matter. This lack of recognition raised doubts about the transparency and inclusivity of the process.
NANS declared its commitment to monitor the payment procedures closely and prevent any misappropriation of funds meant for Nigerian students in Akwa Ibom State. The organization vowed to compile a list of legitimate students who have registered but are yet to receive payment due to complications arising from the system interface.
In addition, NANS appealed to the Head of the ICT department handling the bursary disbursement to prioritize transparency and rectify any flaws in the system. The organization demanded that the team publish the names, registration numbers, payment proofs, and photographs of the students who have received payment so far, as a demonstration of transparency.
NANS questioned the significant difference in the number of students verified and paid within 24 days compared to the time it took to verify and pay a substantially lower number of students in over 100 days. This inconsistency raised concerns about the efficiency and fairness of the process.
The press release concluded with a call for the prompt payment of all legitimately registered students and urged the system operators to review and rectify the registration issues before the deadline. NANS emphasized the urgency of the matter, as many students were relying on the bursary support provided by Governor Umo Eno.
The press release was addressed to various government entities, including the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, the Secretary to the State Government, the Ministry of Information, and several educational institutions. NANS also included relevant social media handles and tags to raise awareness about the issue.
NANS requested that this press release be published as a blog post to further disseminate the organization’s concerns and actions taken regarding the state bursary disbursement.
Contact information:
Comr. Emmanuel Peter Obong
NANS PRO Akwa Ibom State Axis
Phone: 09077770393
#NANS #AkwaIbom #BursaryDisbursement #StudentWelfare #Transparency
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