The management of the University of Benin, UNIBEN, has suspended Students’ Union of the institution.
Infopowerng reports that the suspension of the Students’ Union may not be unconnected with the incident that happened at the University’s Senior Staff Club on Friday 12h April, 2024.
In the said incident, students of the university led by the Students’ Union president were said to have invaded an interactive session by staff of the university with the Edo State governorship candidate of Labour Party, LP, Olumide Akpata and in the process demanded a halt of the event, claiming that they (Students’ Union) were not informed of the event.
The students were said to have behaved unruly at the event and in the process rough handled many of the stuff including a member of the Academic Staff of the Universities (ASUU), who was reportedly beaten merciless and eventually landed in the hospital.
Following the incident, management of the university was said to have set a panel to investigate the incident with a view to unraveling the truth.
Consequently, in a statement signed by A.A. Bobola, Registrar of the university and made available to newsman in Benin on Monday April 29, 2024, said, “after due consideration of the Report by the Management, the Vice Chancellor has approved the suspension of the University’s Students Union.”
The statement partly reads: “The suspension which is indefinite, takes immediate effect, that is, from today, Monday 29h April, 2024.
“Accordingly, all Officers of the Students’ Union are to handover all properties of the Union in their possession to the Dean, Students’ Affairs not later 4.00pm on Tuesday 30 April, 2024.
“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 above directive of the Vice Chancellor is hereby communicated for the attention of the University Community and compliance of the erstwhile Union Officers as appropriate.”
