No fewer than 5,000 students of the University of Benin, may be prevented from sitting for the ongoing second-semester examinations due to non-payment of school charges.
The institution’s management reaffirmed its long-standing policy of “no payment, no examination” in a circular signed by the Registrar, Mr. Ademola Bobola, stressing that several reminders to defaulting students had been ignored.
“The university management is in receipt of the list of students who have failed to pay their school charges despite repeated reminders,” the memo read.
“These students have also failed to subscribe to the student loan scheme provided by the Nigerian Education Loan Fund.”
Bobola noted that the university had encouraged affected students to either clear their fees or access the NELFUND facility but with little success.
“With the examinations already scheduled to commence on Monday, September 29, any student who fails to pay his or her charges or complete the loan process will not be allowed to participate,” he warned.
He further disclosed that the Senate had instructed provosts, deans, directors, and heads of departments to publish the names of all defaulters by 8 a.m. on Monday.
According to him, the move would help students confirm their status and make last-minute payments.
To ensure compliance, an enforcement task force led by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) has been constituted.
“Management expects full cooperation from all stakeholders in order to uphold the university’s high academic standards,” the registrar stated.
This is not the first time such a measure is being enforced in Nigerian universities. Earlier in April, the Rivers State University in Port Harcourt introduced a similar policy. Its Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi, had cautioned students against diverting funds meant for school fees into gambling or frivolous activities.
