NewsEducationUNIBEN Closed Down, Students Ordered To Vacate Campus Immediately

UNIBEN Closed Down, Students Ordered To Vacate Campus Immediately

September 15, 2021

By Ayodele Oni

The University of Benin has been closed down with immediate effect.

The closure was sequel to the protest by the students, which started on Monday over imposition of charges on students that fail to pay their school fees on time.

Authority of the school had imposed an extra N6,000 on students that who had not paid their school fees before the stipulated time.

The official school fees payable is N14,000 and those that could not meet the deadline for payment were asked to pay N20,000, which the students described as arbitrary.

The protesting students claimed that it was quite difficult to cough out the required N14, 000, but the University Management went ahead to add an extra N6, 000 to it.

The Management of UNIBEN had earlier announced that students who did not pay school fees within the stipulated time will have to pay extra charges and may likely have their studentship withdrawn.

The increment is for late payment only, it said. But according to the students, late payment is supposed to commence during the second semester and not the first semester.

In a statement titled ‘Closure of the University’ the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Lilian Salami announced the immediate closure of the University.

The VC, explained that the measure was taken to avoid a break down of law and order from the protesting students,

According to her, all students are to vacate the school hostels not later than 12 noon on Wednesday 15th, September 2021.

“After due consultation, and in the overall interest of the general students’ body, the Vice-Chancellor has, on behalf of the Senate, approved the closure of the University with immediate effect.

“This is based on security reports to avoid the students’ action being hijacked by hoodlums, and thereby prevent any form of breakdown of law and order within and outside the campuses of the University.

“Accordingly, all students are to vacate the hostels and the University premises not later than 12 noon on Wednesday 15th, September 2021.”