She warned that further inaccurate reporting could lead to legal action for libel and slander.
By TheInvestigator
The College of Nursing Sciences, Itigidi, Cross River State, has strongly refuted allegations of extortion made by parents and circulated on social media. The college issued a formal disclaimer, signed by its Provost, Mrs Ruth Ita Ebong, calling the claims false, unfounded, and damaging to the institution’s reputation.
The controversy stems from a report by CrossRiverWatch accusing the College of Nursing Sciences of engaging in massive extortion by charging exorbitant fees for various services, including the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) qualifying examination and other academic activities.
In response, the college has categorically denied the accusations, emphasizing that any inflated figures presented to the public are a result of students exaggerating the fees when reporting to their parents.
“Students Falsify Fees To Get Extra Money,” College Management Claims
In the disclaimer, the college noted that over the years, it had observed a pattern where students deliberately inflated the amounts required by the institution when relaying the information to their parents. According to the management, students have admitted to this practice, citing it as a way to secure additional funds for personal use and upkeep.
The college claimed that these instances of falsification often come to light when concerned parents reach out to verify the actual costs with the institution. In such cases, students typically plead guilty to falsifying the amounts and request forgiveness from the college.
Allegations Of Overcharging For Examinations Dismissed
The issue of examination fees was a central point in the allegations. The report cited that students were being charged ₦150,000 for the Nursing Council final qualifying examination. The college, however, clarified that the actual fee requested from students is ₦100,000, in line with the NMCN’s registration process that opened on September 18 and is set to close on October 4, 2024.
The Provost explained that the basic registration fee set by the Nursing Council is ₦58,160.75. The additional ₦42,000 charged by the college covers the cost of accommodating and catering for the eight Nursing Council Examiners during the examination, as well as providing accommodation for the students who will be examined at various locations, including the University of Calabar (UNICAL) and the College of Nursing in Calabar.
Breakdown Of Additional Costs For Clinical Experiences
In defending the college’s fee structure, Mrs Ebong further explained the high cost of running the General Nursing programme, which requires students to undergo clinical experiences in various healthcare fields, such as Obstetrics/Gynaecology, Public Health, and Psychiatry. The clinical placements take place across multiple locations, including Ikom, Obudu, Ugep, and Calabar, where the college bears additional costs for accommodation, clinical teaching materials, and an honorarium for teaching clinicians.
“These charges are not part of the regular tuition fees but are mandatory expenses for the clinical experiences, which are required by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria,” she said.
College Defends Its Fees As The Lowest In The Region
Mrs Ebong pointed out that, contrary to the extortion claims, the College of Nursing Sciences in Cross River State charges some of the lowest fees compared to similar institutions in other states. While nursing students in other regions pay between ₦500,000 and ₦700,000, the fees at the College of Nursing Sciences, Itigidi, range from ₦175,000 to ₦245,000, depending on whether the student is an indigene or non-indigene.
Warning To Media Outlets
In her closing remarks, the Provost called for responsible journalism and urged the media, including CrossRiverWatch, to balance their reporting by seeking the college’s input before publishing such stories. She warned that further inaccurate reporting could lead to legal action for libel and slander.
The College of Nursing Sciences has urged the public to disregard the extortion claims and continue to trust in the integrity of the institution.