The Management of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), has suspended the Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the institution for raining terror on some of its staff at the University’s Senior Staff Club recently.
In the said incident, students of the University led by the Students’ Union President were said to have stormed 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 stop of the event.
The students were alleged to have claimed that they (Students’ Union) were not informed of the event, hence, the need to stop the event.
They were said to have acted uncontrollably at the event and in the process manhandled many of the staff including Dr. Presley Osemwengie, a lecturer in the Department of Economics and member of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), UNIBEN branch, who eventually found himself in the hospital.
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Following the incident, the Management of the University set up a panel to investigate the incident to unravel the truth.
Consequently, a statement signed by A.A. Bobola, Registrar of the university and made available to newsmen 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 hand over 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.”
