Over 5,000 students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) risk being barred from participating in the second-semester examinations.
The examination, which begins on the 29th of September, some students might not participate in due to their failure to pay mandatory school charges.
According to the university’s Registrar, Ademola Bobola, the institution adheres to a strict policy of ‘no payment, no exam’
He also added that students have been issued repeated reminders and encouraged to take advantage of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), but many failed to respond.
In a move to enforce compliance, the university’s Senate has directed all faculties to publish the names of defaulting students by Monday morning, giving them a final window to settle their dues.
A special task force, led by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), has also been commissioned to oversee enforcement across faculties.
The university management defended the decision, stating that it ensures fairness and upholds academic standards, aligning with similar measures adopted by other institutions across the country.
Below are some of the reactions;
“President Bola Tinubu quadrupled school fees, then introduced NELFUND loans, and Edo Deputy Governor sang praises of him for that.“
“Wow… That’s a massive number of potential carry-overs.”
“This specifically questions the essence of the NELFUND: at least, students should seamlessly access the fund, to offset their debt. On the flip side, institutions should also have a rethink on the cost of fees: it could be burdensome for many.”
