Legislative Institute Presents Draft ODL Accreditation Regulations to NUC

Dr. Ladi Hamalai Presenting copies of the Draft Regulation for Accreditation of On-line, Open and Distance Learning (ODL) Programmes

A delegation from the National Institute of Legislative St u d i e s (NILS), led by the DirectorGeneral, Dr. Ladi Hamalai, on Wednesday, 16 September, 2015, presented copies of the Draft Regulation for the Accreditation of Online, Open and Distance Learning (ODL) Programmes to the National Universities Commission. While presenting the documents to the Executive Secretary, Professor Julius A. Okojie, Dr. Hamalai said the Institute had prepared the set of Regulations as part of its statutory duties to provide legislative drafting and legislative support services to legislators and legislative support staff, among others. She explained that legislative drafting involved the translation of policy into prescribed legislative format, whether primary legislation or subordinate, adding that the NILS would always comply with the standards of the Commission in the discharge of its duties, especially those related to university education, if assisted by NUC. She disclosed that the Institute was in the process of commencing an online Diploma in Legislative Studies, among other programmes. The Director-General requested the Commission to kindly do all within its powers to help the Institute achieve its set goals, adding that NILS had signed various Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with many relevant stakeholders in the education sector, locally and internationally, in order to enhance its standards. She listed some of the stakeholders to include the Centre for Computer-Assisted Legal Education, United Kingdom and National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), among others. Responding, Professor Okojie commended the Institute for deeming in fit to approach the NUC, as the sole regulator of the Nigerian University System (NUS), even when some universities, especially the private ones, commenced programmes without recourse to the Commission. He expressed concern that some institutions not only abused academic titles, but also run illegal diploma programmes. He advised the NILS to adhere to the rules and regulations guiding its functions and charged its management to always interface with the Commission for clarifications on university-related issues and policies, such as accreditation, resource verifications as well as

Prof. Okojie and Dr. Hamalai with some Management staff of the Commission and Members of the NILS delegation

approval for the commencement of new programmes, among others. Professor Okojie said that the NUC Management would look into the draft document presented with a view to assisting the Institute to achieve its mandate. He further promised that the Commission would respond to all the issues raised in the document appropriately. He also urged the Institute to maintain the existing harmonious Other members of NILS's delegation were the Legal Adviser and Postgraduate Coordinator, Professor O. D. Amucheazi; Director, Research and Training, Dr. Adeyemi Fajengbesi; Communications Adviser, Mr. Nwajei Kanayo C and a Research Fellow, Dr. Tonye Clinton Jaja, among others.. working relations with the Commission in the interest of both organisations. Members of the NUC Management in attendance included, the Deputy Executive Secretary 1, Professor Chiedu Felix Mafiana, Directors of Academic Standards and Quality Assurance, Dr. Gidado Bello Kumo and Dr. Noel Biodun Saliu, respectively.Other members of NILS's delegation were the Legal Adviser and Postgraduate Coordinator, Professor O. D. Amucheazi; Director, Research and Training, Dr. Adeyemi Fajengbesi; Communications Adviser, Mr. Nwajei Kanayo C and a Research Fellow, Dr. Tonye Clinton Jaja, among others..