NOUN
National Open University of Nigeria
NOUN
National Open University of Nigeria
We Never Pay Chief Obasanjo – NOUN
The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) has said that it
never made any payment to former President for the services he
renders to the institution as one of its facilitators.
The university said it was reacting to a story in a national
newspaper which reported on Wednesday that the former President
earns N40,000 per annum as NOUN lecturer.
The Director of Media and Publicity of the university, Mr.
Ibrahim Sheme, explained that the story emanated from the press
conference the Vice–Chancellor, Prof. Abdalla Uba Adamu, gave on
Tuesday, ahead of the 8th Convocation Ceremony of the institution
which is coming up this Saturday.
Sheme, quoting the NOUN’s Registrar, Mr. Felix I. Edoka, said,
“Whilst we remain grateful to all the media houses that give our
activities positive coverage, we insist that their news reports
should always be accurate and diligent.
“While it is true that the VC had told the gathering of
journalists and NOUN staff present at the conference that the
University had offered the former President, His Excellency, Chief
Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo, PhD, a facilitation appointment, the
honorarium mentioned in the newspaper publications is the generic
amount the University issues in the appointment letters of all
facilitators.
“His Excellency, Chief Obasanjo, in his acceptance letter to the
University, however, decided to render his services on a pro bono
basis, i.e. free of charge.”
He added that Prof. Adamu never said at the press conference
that Chief Obasanjo had taken or intended to take a kobo as payment
or salary for his services. He was emphatic about the magnanimity
of the former President and elder statesman in offering his
valuable time to work for NOUN at its Study Centre in Abeokuta,
Ogun State, as a facilitator on a part-time basis and free of
charge.
“For the records, therefore, we wish to clarify that His
Excellency, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, is offering his services as a
facilitator to the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN)
absolutely free of charge and with no any strings attached. Chief
Obasanjo told the University that his decision was premised on the
fact that he is giving back to the society out of the great
bounties God and the University have given him. For this laudable
and patriotic gesture of his, we remain immensely indebted to the
former President and elder statesman.”
The Registrar expressed the university’s regret over the
inconveniences and embarrassment the newspaper publications caused
to him.
Signed:
Ibrahim Sheme
Director, Media and Publicity,
NOUN