Civil Society Condemns Media Blackmail of NOUN Leadership

The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CCSG) has called on Nigeria security agencies to commence proper investigation against those behind the current media blackmail going on against the leadership of the National Open University of Nigeria.
While addressing the press in Abuja today, the president Comrade Etuk Bassey Williams said it findings revealed that some students of the University with unresolved disciplinary problems are behind the blackmail to taint and discredit the image of the institution and its leadership.
Bassey wondering why some students would want to run down an institution like the NOUN which remains one of the cheapest distant learning institutions in the world despite it comparably world standard just for personal reasons.
He said the importance of the institution to Nigerians was the major reason the coalition took time to investigate the allegations, adding that the allegations are pure blackmail bereft of facts as all payments to the institution are done online, which implies that records of payments made to the institution by students are traceable.
He said the several innovations brought to bear on the institution by Prof. Vincent Tenebe, are legendary and should be embraced by all.
“We condemn in its entirety the continuous media blackmail of the institutions’ leadership by these students and their sponsors with the aim of discrediting the good works so far achieved in this institution.
“This unethical conduct of blackmailing credible and hardworking Nigerians is fast becoming the order of the day andits time this is nipped in the bud because of the unquantifiable damage this would have on the reputation of upright and committed individuals since not all government officials are corrupt.
“All fees paid to the institutions are legally approved statutory fees payable online only to the institution’s account and all expenditure spending follows due process.
“NOUN based on our findings remains one of the cheapest distant learning institutions in the world thereby affording Nigerians not only the opportunity to work and learn but access to cheap and qualitative education owning to its strict compliance with global best practices made possible by the innovations introduced into the system by the Prof. Vincent Tenebe led leadership, which has seen the institution more than double its study centres from 36 to 76 nationwide, achieve an unprecedented increase in the number of students’ enrolment and 100% success in accreditation of courses the NUC,” he said.