Renowned journalist Oseni Rufai has cried out over the “rot” he is experiencing at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, where he is pursuing a PhD in Political Science.
In a statement on Tuesday, Oseni berated the institution over the demand for bribes by some lecturers and the Political Science Head of Department, HOD.
Describing it as an “annoying” “rot in the system,” Oseni alleged that the department “has a system for extortion of money from the hapless and students in postgraduate studies.”
He lamented that PhD students were forced to contribute N100,000 for the construction of a toilet building for the HOD.
Lamenting over the extortion in the school, Oseni revealed that PhD students “must part with N500k in order to secure the topic for their final thesis.”
The Arise TV presenter noted that most of his classmates cannot afford the exorbitant financial demands of the department.
Oseni’s statement reads, “As I mentioned earlier, I have something bothering me that I think I may bring to your attention for possible clues to solving it.
“I am currently pursuing a PhD in political science at UNN. But the fact that I am there witnessing a rot in the system is annoying.
“The Department has a system for extorting money from the hapless and students in postgraduate studies.
“Imagine a PG student coughing out N100,000 to the HOD in the name of building toilets in his office.
“This money is collected by proxy, only in cash. The proxy, otherwise, class Rep, chosen by the HOD and imposed on the class, would pass down information and cow the class members not to speak.
“Besides the N100k, another N35k is levied to sort lecturers and host the HOD and PG coordinators of the department.
“Still, the students are being told to brace up for the N45k deal per seminar presentation. And, the big one is that they must part with N500k in order to secure the topic for their final thesis.
“I would have kept the cool and dropped from the programme, but as Soyinka said, the man dies that keeps mute in the face of oppression.
“Many of my class members can’t afford these payments, and as a media figure, it’s cowardice on my part to keep quiet or simply withdraw.”
