The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has cautioned school authorities in Akwa Ibom against involvement in piracy.
NCC state coordinator, Uyo Office, Mrs Cornelia Ibanga, gave the caution while leading a team on inspection of school bookshops in Uyo metropolis.
She observed that some schools have maintained the standard of patronising credible publishers, but lamented that some schools were still sourcing books from piracy hot-spots for their students.
She stated that the commission will henceforth treat such schools as booksellers and hold them accountable for any pirated books found in their premises or in the possession of their students
Mrs Ibanga noted that some schools in the state had cultivated the habit of reducing standards by patronising pirates instead of credible publishers.
The coordinator said that the commission would henceforth deal decisively with any school found culpable of distributing pirated books advising school owners to be vigilant and take precautions to avoid being complicit in book piracy.
“Though there had been a series of meetings and discussions in which school proprietors and owners had promised to comply with provisions of the Act, it was important that the commission monitors to ensure that they keep to their words and know the weight of enforcement where necessary.
“I will like to advise schools to patronize publishers directly or through their representatives or reputable book stores, exercising caution and due diligence in their dealings with distributors and book importers insisting on signed invoices and receipts, ” She advised.
Mrs Ibanga said that the commission would continue to monitor and enforce compliance with the law in order to ensure sanity.
A Principal, Mr Jethro Fadero, who spoke to our correspondent, described the sale of books to students as a distraction that schools should avoid.
Mr Fadero urged schools to focus more on teaching instead of selling books, adding: “let us give book lists to parents to source from book stores instead of selling to them.
