THE 2024 UPNG Nipa-Kutubu Students Association (NKSA) president, Mr. Nickson David, has categorically denied a recent social media allegation about the misappropriation of the association’s funds by the executives for personal use.
Over the week, a viral Facebook post claimed that the 2024 NKSA executives were alleged to have implicated in the misappropriation of K100, 000 intended for an annual awareness program for the association.
NKSA president Mr. Nickson David and his treasurer were targeted in the allegation, drawing hatred and malicious commentaries against the gentlemen.
“As the president of the said association, I categorically deny these misguided allegation and accusations published on social media by certain individuals,” said Mr. David in a statement today.
“These individuals apparently had the audacity to take it to social media to tarnish our reputations and integrity but lack the guts to do so in their own real names,” he said.
“Social media is not the appropriate avenue to address issues of this sort, thus I have refrained from commenting or rebutting on the allegations through my personal Facebook account.
“However, the virality of these unfounded allegations that has been drawing unnecessary attention and ridiculous commentaries over the week has compelled me to respond publicly,” Mr. David said.
He said it is totally senseless for an intellectual to run to social media with serious accusations prematurely starting in week one of schooling when the students were still occupied with registrations.
“The normal process would be to give time for student registrations to complete, which stretched into week 2, now is only week 3, conduct 2025 association election and release a financial report for 2024 that would capture the use of the Southern Highlands Provincial Government (SHPG) fund as well.
“However, this premature and senseless endeavor by some self-centred individuals has now interrupted the smooth flow of events and has brought the name of the association into disrepute.
“What we are witnessing here is pure immaturity and personal grudges advanced in the name of the association.
“The fact of the matter is, UPNG NKSA had started an initiative in 2023 to conduct end-of-year awareness programs on education and law and order in the electorate annually.
“This initiative was commended by the Nipa-Kutubu District Development Authority (NKDDA), with a pledge to provide funding annually to support the course.
“In this understanding, we have taken steps to organize further funding from other stakeholders to make up the budget for the awareness program scheduled on November 2024,” Mr. David explained.
“According to our budget, the entire one-month program would cost K243, 000, however, we received no funding from the NKDDA in 2024 for reasons we do not know, thus the planned event was somewhat cancelled,” he added.
The president further explained that during the course of the year 2024, the association has incurred several operational costs, including; association outing, preparing and printing of proposals to secure funding for the awareness program, vehicle hire for a month for delivery and follow-ups on the proposals, logistics and other administrative costs for the year 2024.
He said around December 2024, the SHPG received a copy of our proposal through the Governor, Hon. William Powi, who then committed to fund the entire budget.
“However, in January 2025 we received a cheque for only K100, 000 by the SHPG, which was obviously insufficient.
“Also, by then we were already late to resume the awareness program. On the other hand, the association had outstanding arrears from 2024 to settle.
“The right thing to do then was to offset the arrears for the year 2024, which were settled in full (with inflated interests accumulated overtime).
“This brought the total expenditure to about 40% of the SHPG fund (details and particulars tabled in the financial report) – exhausted without return, but it brought the association back to its feet, debt wise.
“Much of the remaining funds were then used within the scope of the awareness program in purchasing items such as Bluetooth Speaker, Cannon Camera, and others, which are still here in our possession.
“Obviously, it was a significant setback for all of us after all efforts, resources and considerable study hours exhausted trying to make the end-of-year awareness program a success.”
“Thanks to SHPG who stepped in from nowhere to assist when other sponsors who initially pledged their support failed to come through. Otherwise, the association would have remained in a huge debt – a burden I wished not to leave onto the shoulders of the incoming executives of this year 2025.”
“Therefore, I appeal to the public not to believe any allegation made by self-centred people who are running all over the social media behind fake accounts.
“What has been circulating is far from the truth and this will be revealed through proper processes and in the right avenues, not out here for social media justification, or for some people’s gratification.
“The UPNG NKSA reputation and credibility is paramount and I regret that these immature people with personal interests have now discredited it prematurely without allowing the normal process of events to unfold.”
Mr. David also highlighted that an acquittal has been prepared and will be tabled before everyone in the association.
“To the persons who are behind all these attacks and fake Facebook accounts, I’d like to remind you that justice is a two-edged sword – I’m also taking note of all your very serious defamatory posts on social media.
“Not only my reputation and integrity but also that of my executives, and most importantly the association’s have now been dragged through the mud and someone will have to answer for that.
“Lastly, I am not a fugitive for a fake Facebook account to publish “wanted” notice all over social media for noting but your own gratification.
“I am here in UPNG, everyone has my contacts and know where I live. I will appreciate a civil approach to address this in-house issue as leaders and intellectuals.
“Once again, I am not a fugitive and I sternly advise you to refrain from treating me as one, especially with your fake Facebook accounts.”
