Why UNIBEN Suspended Students’ Union Activities Indefinitely

By Akinwale Kasali

Following an attack on Olumide Akpata, Labour Party, LP, Governorship Candidate in the forthcoming Governorship Election in Edo State, the Management of the University of Benin, UNIBEN, has indefinitely suspended the activities of the Student Union Government, SUG, of the Institution.

The Institution’s Registrar, Ademola Bobola, disclosed the decision of the Management.

The suspension letter reads:

“After due consideration of the report by the management, the Vice Chancellor has approved the suspension of the University’s Students Union.

“The suspension which is indefinite, takes immediate effect, that is, from Monday 29th April, 2024.

“Accordingly, all officers of the Students’ Union are to hand over all properties of the union in their possession to the Dean, Students’ Affairs, not later than 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday.

“In the interim, a Caretaker Committee composed of representatives of faculties, schools, and institutes has been approved to coordinate students’ activities during the period of suspension.

“The directive of the Vice Chancellor is hereby communicated for the attention of the university community and compliance of the erstwhile union officers as appropriate,” Bobola said.

It would be recalled that on April 12th, 2024 at the University’s Senior Staff Club, the SUG were said to have disrupted an interactive session by staff of the University with LP Governorship Candidate.

It was gathered that the students behaved unruly at the event and, in the process, rough-handled many of the staff, including a member of the Academic Staff of the Universities, ASUU, who was reportedly beaten to a pulp.

Following this development, the Institution set up a panel of inquiry to investigate the incident to unravel the crux of the issue, leading to decision of the institution to suspend the SUG activities indefinitely.