The University of Benin’s Senate has expressed its dismay over recent student protests and warned that the institution might be shut down if ongoing dialogues with the students fail.
During an emergency meeting, the Senate highlighted concerns over the students’ blockade of a federal highway, which caused major inconvenience to vehicle owners, travelers, and other commuters.
The resolution was shared in a statement by the institution’s Public Relations Officer, Benedicta Ehanire, on Wednesday evening.
“The Senate of the University of Benin has held an emergency meeting, following the early morning protest by students of the University. While describing the students’ action as unfortunate, the Senate is particularly concerned with the trend whereby the students block the federal highway thus causing hardship to travellers and other commuters,” the statement read.
Some Senate members have been tasked with continuing dialogue with the students regarding their demand for 24-hour electricity supply. The university had previously provided this service before being disconnected by the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) due to a disputed monthly bill exceeding N250 million.
The Senate also addressed the students’ other grievances about the high costs of food and transportation, noting that these issues are beyond the university’s control.
“The Senate of the University resolved that if dialogue with the students fails and the protest persists, it will have no other option than to shut down the institution,” the statement added.
The Senate commended the university management for its efforts to ensure student comfort despite the country’s challenging economic conditions.
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