The University of Benin’s student union government has been placed on indefinite suspension by the school’s administration.
The university’s registrar, Ademola Bobola, revealed the union’s decision in a letter to the university’s community that was made available to media on Tuesday in Benin City.
The letter read, “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, April 29, 2024. Accordingly, all officers of the students’ union are to hand over all property 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.’’
The suspension was in connection with the incident at the university’s Senior Staff Club on April 12.
On that day, the union was said to have disrupted an interactive session by staff of the university with the Edo State governorship candidate of Labour Party, Olumide Akpata.
The students were said to have 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, who was reportedly beaten to a pulp.
Following the incident, the management of the university set up a panel of enquiry to investigate the incident to unravel the crux of the issue.