Abuja , By Ebriku John Friday
— Jan 11, 2016 4:16 pm | Leave a
comment
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.
