Protest rocks uniben over hike in charged for late payment of tuition fees

Commercial activities were yesterday grounded to a halt for several hours as hundreds of angry students of the University Of Benin (UNIBEN), took to the streets to protest alleged incessant charges for late payment of school fee.

The protesters blocked the main gate of the Ugbowo campus of the University, a situation that caused long queue of vehicles along the ever-busy Benin-Lagos highway.

It was learnt that the students were first charged additional N10,000 to their regular school fees for late payment of school fees. and an additional N0,000 within a short notice, bringing the total to N20,000

It was further gathered that students who were yet to pay their school fees within the stipulated time will either pay the extra charges or lose their admission.

But, the protesting students argued that the increment is coming just one week after their resumption, whereas, late payment of school fees is supposed to commence on 2nd semester and not the 1st semester.

They further argued that some 100 level students have not even been cleared, meaning that they will not be able to pay their school fees until after clearance.

Some of the students told newsmen that while they were yet to pay the first charges of N10,000, the school authority added another N1,000 to it.

It was however gathered that the management of the University had earlier announced that students who did not pay school fees within the stipulated time will have to pay extra charges or may likely have their studentship withdrawn.

As at the time of filing this report, the University’s image maker, Dr. Benedicta Ehanire could not be reached on her mobile phone.

Speaking for the students, the Students Union Government (SUG) President, Comrade Egwu Benjamin Lotanna, said the institution’s management should call the students Union Executive Council for a round table meeting adding that he believes so much in diplomacy and that the students also believe in dialogue.