THE University of Benin (UNIBEN) has prohibited the use of hot plates, ring boilers and gas cookers in its hostels to curb increasing energy-related expenditures by the institution.
The university, in a circular signed by its Registrar, Mr. Ademola Bobola, said any violator of the ban would be rusticated from the school.
The ban is not unconnected with the electricity crisis that hit the university recently, when the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) raised the monthly billing of the institution from N88million to N250million.
This consequently led to the disconnection of the two campuses of the university by the vendor, a development that later led to a protest by the students on July 3, after weeks of power outage and supply of electricity from generating sets.
The protest forced the Senate of the university to shut the university to forestall breakdown of law and order.
But in the circular announcing the university’s reopening, Bobola said students must abide by the management’s arrangements for the supply, distribution and utilisation of electricity on its campuses.
It directed the students to pay up their outstanding levies the school gave them, saying any student without proof of payment would not be allowed into the examination halls, saying: “Payment of outstanding school charges, with evidence upon resumption, will serve as eligibility for examination and will henceforth be strictly monitored to ensure compliance
“Students would also be expected not to involve themselves in any unruly conduct that is against the rules and regulations of the University.
“They are to be of good conduct and not to sponsor or participate in any unauthorised assembly or demonstration within the precincts of the university.”
