Students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) have reacted to the decision of the institution management to hike tuition by #20,000.
The school management had in a circular announced the hike in tuition and the decision to withdraw the studentship of defaulters after the September 17 deadline.
According to the circular, the institution opened its portal for registration and payment on August 16, 2021. The portal was to remain open until September 3. Failure to meet the three-week deadline would attract a penalty of N10,000 between September 6 and 10, and a heavier penalty of N20,000 between September 13 and 17.
It reads: “Any student who fails to register at the close of the registration deadline will be deemed to have voluntarily withdrawn from the University.”
To express their displeasure with the management, over 3,000 students of UNIBEN staged a protest against the varsity management on Tuesday. The students were sighted holding several placards with different inscriptions.
In the videos and audio files obtained by Naija Banquet, the university students lamented the decision of the school. Some of them are quoted as saying:
“I got cleared yesterday morning, in less than 24 hours, now I’m expected to pay #93,000. How do you expect me to get that amount?”
“We no wan hear late payment, we no get #20k. Na me dey cloth my self, na me dey feed my self. It took my father almost 2 months to send me 45k”
“…If I tell my daddy now, person wey well before, no be the attack go kill am? Now I tell am this morning, he said make hin go sell his motor make e take pay the school fee.”
Another student said tearfully
The Vice-Chancellor, Lilian Salami, while replying a student who said some of them barely feed once in a day and rely on sponsorship, in another clip, said: “
The are some people who are not educated who are better than those who are not educated. So don’t say it as if #15,000…who cannot afford #15,000 if you want to?
“Do you know how many people I’m paying school fees for? You are even talking, do you know how many people come here?”
UNIBEN VC replies a student who says some of them barely feed, relies on sponsorship.
The management, however, in a letter signed by the school registrar on Tuesday evening has ordered the immediate closure of the university. According to the letter, the closure of the school is in a bid to stave off hoodlums from hijacking the students’ action.
“Accordingly, all students are to vacate the hostels and the university premises not later than noon on Wednesday, 15th September, 2021”, the letter reads.