The management of University of Benin (UNIBEN), has announced that all the students of the school will sign a compulsory affidavit of undertaking never to sponsor or participate in any assembly or demonstration on the campuses and their precincts without the approval of the university management.
The university also said the students will sign an affidavit of undertaking to abide by the arrangement(s) put in place by the university management for the supply, distribution and utilisation of electricity on its campuses.
The institution announced these in a memo issued on Wednesday where it announced the resumption of academic activities after the school was closed for over a month since July 4, following students’ protest against power outage in the school.
The university in a circular signed by its Registrar, Mr. A.A. Bobola, vowed to withhold results of any student who fails to sign the affidavit of undertaking.
The circular read, “The Senate of the University of Benin at its meetings held on Tuesday 23 and Wednesday 24 July, 2024 reviewed the issues leading to its earlier decision to close the University on Thursday 4 July, 2024.
“It is to be recalled that prior to the closure, the Students had, against all lawful directives of the University Authorities, embarked on a series of agitations and protests thus hindering the normal academic and administrative activities in the University.
“During the period of closure, the University Management took necessary actions to appropriately address all the issues that seemingly led to the closure of the University.
“In that regard, the issues concerning electricity and water supply, renovation of Halls of Residence, etc. have been taken care of.
“In tandem with the position of the Governing Council, Senate and critical Stakeholders of the University, and after due review of the current atmosphere in the Country, the University Management has decided as follows:
“Students are to come into the Halls of Residence on Sunday, August 11, 2024; lectures are to resume on Monday, August 12, 2024; and each returning student is to swear to an Affidavit of Undertaking to be of good conduct while in the University.
“The Affidavit must contain the cardinal points as captured in the attached document.
“The Sworn Affidavit should be uploaded on the Student’s Kofa page while the hard-copy should be submitted to the Departmental Course Adviser.
“Students are expected to complete this process within two weeks of resumption, and in any case not beyond the end of 2023/2024 academic session, else the result of any defaulting student will not be released.
“Students are enjoined to take note of the foregoing and comply as appropriate.”
The affidavit of undertaking as drafted by the university management read, “All Students returning to the University of Benin must depose to an Affidavit of Undertaking to be of Good Conduct that must contain the following cardinal points:
“Full Name, Department and Faculty of Student; Matriculation Number of Student.
“To undertake as follows: to abide by the arrangement(s) put in place by the University Management for the supply, distribution and utilization of electricity on the campuses of the University of Benin.
“To pay outstanding school charges upon resumption as eligibility for examinations will henceforth be strictly based on presentation of evidence of payment of approved school charges.
“Not to bring any prohibited appliances, such as hot plate, ring boiler, gas cooker etc into the Halls of Residence, as violation of this rule shall attract rustication of such a Student.
“Not to be involved in any unruly conduct that is against the Rules and Regulations of the University, and to be of good conduct, and not to sponsor or participate in any unauthorized assembly or demonstration within the campuses and their precincts.”
Recall that in July, following protests by students against power outage in the institution, the UNIBEN authorities suspended academic activities indefinitely and oedered students out of hostels.
Spokesperson for the university, Dr Benedicta Ehanire, who announced the closure in a statement she personally signed, said the decision was hinged on the refusal of the students to shift grounds on their demands for 24 hours electricity.
The university was thrown into a blackout by the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) following the inability to reach agreement over contentious electricity billings.
The electricity bill of the federal-owned university increased from about N80 million to almost N280 million, following the recent tariff hike for Band A electricity consumers, where UNIBEN falls under.
UNIBEN was initially forced to implement power shedding, restoring power to the halls of residence for four hours at night (7-11 pm) and two hours during the day (5-7am), a situation the students kicked against, leading to the varsity’s closure.
