THE authorities of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) have suspended the institution’s Students Union Government (SUG) indefinitely.
In a letter to the university’s community on Tuesday, April 30, in Benin, the university’s Registrar, Ademola Bobola, announced the decision.
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, 29th April, 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 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 might not be in unconnected with the incident at the university’s Senior Staff Club on April 12, where the students’ union was alleged to have disrupted an interactive session by staff of the university with the Edo State governorship candidate of Labour Party (LP), Olumide Akpata, an alumnus of the institution.
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 (ASUU), 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 with a view to unraveling the crux of the issue.
