AAU To Consider Resumption Of Academic Activities After Senate Meeting, Insist Returning Students School Fees Not Increased
THE management of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, has said that its Senate will soon meet to consider the resumption of academic activities in the university after the school was shut down indefinitely three weeks ago.
The acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Asomwan Adagbonyin, stated this last Tuesday while briefing journalists at the Edo State secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Benin City on the goings-on in the University.
He explained that the alleged increase in school fees which led to student protests and the resultant closure of the institution was false, adding that fresh students had their tuition fees increased while returning students’ fees remained the same.
According to him; “There are plans to open the institution as soon as the Senate of the school meets to consider it.
“There is no increment in tuition fees of returning students of AAU and the students of the university have been allowed to pay their school fees in two instalments to reduce the burden of paying once,” he added.
He stated that management decided to close the school as the students’ protest became violent, with some of the students attacking fellow students and lecturers, inflicting injuries on them on campus, as well as preventing commendation service for a late Professor from being held on campus.
The Acting Vice-Chancellor further explained that following the infractions, management dissolved the Students Union Government leadership and set up a Caretaker Committee, vowing that erring students would be held responsible for their actions.
He described the political dimension the protest at the AAU has taken as “a deeply entrenched conspiracy” and advised those who have turned the university into a war zone to give peace a chance, just as he said a lot of misinformation was in the air and urged members of the public to get correct information from the university’s website and stop the falsehood.
Prof. Adagboyin while announcing that 90 medical students who recently graduated from the university would soon be inducted, debunked reports that the institution was offering fake degrees in mechanical and electrical engineering.
He said the university has already paid the prescribed fees to the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria for the re-accreditation of the courses whose accreditation lapsed recently.
Also, while reacting to the current situation in the Edo State-owned university, a situation which led to the Ekpoma women protesting at the university main gate, the Acting Registrar of Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma, Prof. Ambrose Odiase stated that increase in school fees is not perculiar to Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma but is sweeping across all Nigerian universities – federal, state and private citing Ekiti State University which also just released its own memo on fee increase as example, claiming that theirs is far higher than what AAU adopted.
He said, “We won’t see students or women barricading their university gate”. In his words he said. “Anything in AAUE is always taken to a frightening and diabolical dimension”.
The acting registrar who made the above expression in EDO STATE PDP FORUM WhatsApp group, also posted photo of Ekiti state university school school fee memo and ssisy
comparison should be made between AAU school fees and other universities; adding that If the collective actions of the students and the women culminate to the closure of the University, they should have ourselves to blame.
While also claiming that the students and parents were hired to protest and block the gate, he declared that the society will bear the brunt of the consequences, adding, “Mark my words, The Oracle have spoken.”
It will be recalled that Ekpoma women in the early hours of Tuesday, September 19, 2023 barricaded the university main gate protesting against the increment of school fee for returning students of the university.
While this was on, the Management of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma in a statement issued by the Head of Corporate Communications and Protocol, Otunba Mike Ade Aladenika, explained the reason behind the dissolution of the Student Union Government (SUG), of the University in the wake of the protest that attended the “alleged increment of school fees.”
According to it, “The dissolution of the SUG and the subsequent appointment of a Caretaker Committee was occasioned by the narratives surrounding the alleged increment in school fees that led to the protest and the blocking of the school gates for days.
“It is pertinent for us, as an institution, to straighten the narratives especially as the news media and several online platforms have been awash with the news of the dissolution of Ambrose Alli University (AAU) Student Union and the setting up of a Caretaker Committee. “Several imaginary reasons have been adduced by different sections of the society, the most common being that the AAU Management dissolved the Student Union because the students embarked on a legitimate protest over hike in school fees.
”Unfortunately, “those spreading this false narrative do not seem to realise that their actions only beg the facts, he stated, adding; “More unfortunate is what ordinarily was an internal University issue which has now been so externalised to the extent that facts have been turned upside down.
“It is imperative for the University Management to make public some facts as they relate to the protest by persons who claim they are students of AAU and to let the world know that the erstwhile Student Union leaders currently protesting against alleged hike in fees, were part of the team that negotiated the same fees they are now protesting against, including the add-ons.
“It should be noted that when the then leadership threatened to shut the University gate because of some perceived issues, that of school fees was not even high up on the list of the issues.
“The only aspect of their agitation that is related to fees was the inclusion of returning (old) students in the Edo Health Insurance Scheme (EDOHIS).
“They claimed that they had reached an agreement with the Management of EDOHIS to exclude all returning students from 300L and above from the scheme.
“The students were informed that the agreement they spoke about would be implemented only if it was true and was officially communicated to the University Management.”
The AAU Head of Corporate Communications and protocols also disclosed that the management’s position was predicated on the fact that the EDOHIS as a policy of the Edo State Government is currently being implemented across all tertiary institutions in the state and the decision to waive it or to determine its method of implementation for one institution could never be arbitrary.
Hear him: “Dialogue was still ongoing between the Management and the students’ representatives, and most of the issues raised by the students then were already being addressed, when the students began the protest two days to the Edo State Local Government elections.
“Obviously, they had already decided to adopt confrontation as a strategy before pretending to be engaged in consultation. As an afterthought, the students hurriedly drafted a letter a day before the protest began and after meeting with the Acting Vice-Chancellor.
“The letter reached the Acting Vice Chancellor the same day the protest began. It is the undisputed view of Management that there is nothing wrong with peaceful protests when all other options have failed but in this case, the dialogue option had not failed.
The only problem was when the protesters now started using their rights to protest to infringe on the rights of other persons. “Not right-thinking Management would fold its arms and watch a supposed peaceful protest deteriorate into anarchy and lawlessness.
“It should also be noted that the Senate had directed that under no circumstances should the University gates be shut in the name of protests. They still dared the Senate and went ahead to lock up the University gates.” Otunba Mike Aladenika, in the statement which was made available to newsmen in Benin City, listed some of the activities of the protesters led by the erstwhile Student Union executives to include and not limited to:
“Holding students who wanted to obey Senate’s directive to vacate the campus hostage, and openly beating up some of them; violently attacking and causing injuries to persons who wanted to access their place of worship on campus. (The affected persons reported this action to the police and even threatened to embark on a reprisal attack on the protesters.) “Others were issuing threats to staff to prevent them from accessing their offices; allowing persons who are neither staff nor students of the University access to campus to hold inordinate and nocturnal meetings while chasing away and preventing staff and students from entering the campus.
“Not only these, they also prevented the ambulance conveying the corpse of a departed Professor from entering the main campus of the University and chasing mourners and sympathisers who were at the gate to attend the statutory commendation service in honour of the late Professor thereby preventing the commendation service in honour of the departed Professor from taking place; embarking on protests without first seeking and obtaining the approval of the relevant office as required.
“There are other documented infractions.
“All entreaties made by representatives of the University Management to the dissolved leaders of the Student Union to be law-abiding in their conduct fell on deaf ears. Instead, more verbal threats of physical attacks were issued to the Management’s representatives.
“Ambrose Alli University has regulations guiding the activities of students. Any breach of the matriculation oath has its prescribed sanctions and consequences.
The Management could not have looked away and allowed these acts of lawlessness to continue,” he added.
Aladenika further stated that the first step taken by the management was the immediate dissolution of the Student Union and then the setting up of a Caretaker Committee to continue the dialogue with Management on behalf of the law-abiding students; adding that those already fingered and identified as culprits in these acts of lawlessness will definitely be held accountable in due time.
Going further, he said: “On the issue of increase in School Fees for returning students, these erstwhile student leaders made attempts to misinform the public about the add-ons to the tuition fees.
“These so-called add-ons are not new to the students. They have been paying them. They include the following:
“Laboratory Dues, Student Union Dues, Alternative Subscription Model (ASM) Fee (formerly known as technology fee), Interswitch Transaction Charge, EDOHIS, Access Card (formerly ID Card), Accreditation Fees, Student Union Dues and Sports Development Fee.
“The Laboratory Dues, Faculty and Departmental Dues were hitherto paid to the respective Faculties and Departments. It was discovered that there were abuses associated with the collection of these Dues at the Departmental/Faculty levels.
“Some Departments have already been indicted and culpable staff dismissed from the services of the University.
“To guard against these abuses, these dues were integrated into the students’ portal for proper documentation and monitoring.
“The monies go to the accounts of the respective departments and faculties, not to the University Management.
“For the avoidance of doubt, these add-ons amounted to about Thirty Thousand Naira (N30,000.00) for all the programmes in the Faculties of Arts, Law, Management Sciences, Social Sciences and Environmental Studies; Thirty-Five Thousand Naira (N35,000.00) for all the programmes in the Faculties of Agriculture, Education, Engineering and Technology, Life Sciences and Physical Sciences; Sixty Thousand Naira (N60,000.00) for the Departments of Anatomy and Physiology and, Eighty Thousand Naira (N80,000.00) for the Department of Nursing and the Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences.
“The over one hundred and twenty thousand naira (N120,000.00) being bandied by the students is totally false. As a result of the ongoing repositioning of the MBBS programme, talks are currently on with critical stakeholders on what the realistic fees should be.
“The Management wishes to assure all law-abiding students of the University that whatever concerns they may have will be adequately addressed.
“They are advised to cooperate with the newly-appointed Student Caretaker Committee who have been given unfettered assess by both the Special Intervention Team (SIT) and the University Management in this regard.
“The Management admonishes all students not to allow themselves to be used to cause a breach of the peace in the University over unfounded rumours.
“They should eschew acts that are detrimental to their wellbeing as students. A lot of misinformation is in the air, and all must keep emotions aside and seek clarifications whenever in doubt”, the AAU spokesperson further declared.
While all these were on, the newly appointed caretaker committee in a release titled “OUTCOME OF THE MEETING BETWEEN THE STUDENT UNION CARETAKER COMMITTEE AND THE SPECIAL INTERVENTION TEAM SIT” outlined a three-point demand to the SIT which include;
1) Publication of all payable fee and add-ons in Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma to avoid speculations and misinformation.
2) Immediate resumption of dialogue with the University Management to address issues in contention.
3) Reopening of the university within 72 hours
On its part, the National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS), Joint Campus, Edo State axis, expressed strong disagreement with the recent appointment of a new caretaker committee by the management of the Ambrose Alli University (AAU). In a press release issued earlier today, the student association demanded the reinstatement of the duly elected executives chosen by the students themselves. They have also issued a threat to relocate their secretariat to AAU if their demands are not met.
The grouse of the association arose from the decision made by AAU’s management to install a caretaker committee to oversee the affairs of the student association, a move that has been met with significant opposition from NANS. According to NANS, the appointment disregards the democratic process through which the students’ elected representatives were chosen.
In a strongly worded statement, the student association emphasized the importance of upholding the principles of democracy and student representation. They called upon the management of AAU to recognize the legitimacy of the elected executives and reverse their decision to impose a caretaker committee.
New Caretaker Committee Appointed at Ambrose Alli University for 2022/2023 Academic Session
EKPOMA, September 13, 2023 – The Dean of Students at Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Engr. Dr. E. Ufah, issued a memo announcing the appointment of a new caretaker committee for the 2022/2023 academic session. This decision followed the dissolution of the Students Union Government.
Dr. Ufah explained that the newly appointed committee will assume the responsibilities of the Union’s leadership, adding that “The newly appointed committee is expected to assume their roles immediately.”
While appearing in an ITV RADIO “MAN AROUND TOWN” programme, the Acting Vice Chancellor of Ambrose Alli University, Prof A.S Adagboyin, had addressed what he termed the rumours of an increase in school fees and accused the dissolved Student Union Government (SUG) of being used for misinformation. The host of the programme, Efe facilitated the discussion where the AVC clarified several key points.
He categorically denied any tuition fee increment for returning students, emphasizing that only new intake students would experience changes. He dismissed the circulating figures as false and clarified that the adjustments were related to “Add-ons,” not tuition fees.
The AVC explained that the Add-ons covered various departmental dues, such as lab fees for science students, which the university now collected centrally to prevent overcharging by departments. The AVC highlighted that these dues were eventually returned to the respective departments.
Concerning the recent protests, the AVC stated that the SUG had refused negotiations and insisted on gate closures, leading to academic activities being suspended and had expressed concern over reports of student violence during the protests, including attacks on non-participating students, the seizure of motorcycles, and disruptions to university worship services.
Addressing allegations of making insensitive remarks, the AVC refuted any association with the statement, “University is not for the poor, if you don’t have money go and sit down,” he shared that his own upbringing was not affluent, and he understood the challenges students face.
The AVC stressed that the university had always been student-friendly but pointed out that certain elements were attempting to destabilize the institution. He hinted at legal consequences for those involved in violence and emphasized that beating up staff was not a solution.
On issues surrounding the dissolution of the SUG, the AVC explained that this action was taken due to a perceived increase in lawlessness and external influence like politicians. He acknowledged concerns about this move but argued it was necessary to prevent further disruption.
Shortly after the programme, the SUG President, Ibrahim Fatai, addressed the AVC’s statements on social media. He refuted claims that students were being used for political purposes and emphasized the union’s neutrality. He called for evidence if there were allegations of political sponsorship.
Also, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma Chapter has warned against any attempt to make its members the scapegoats of the present crisis rocking the University, blaming the crisis on what the union described as “glaring incompetence, ineptitude and cruelty by the University Administration in the handling of the school fees/charges debacle.”
ASUU in a press statement issued in Benin City on Tuesday, the Union said, it was disturbed by the seeming collapse of the truce purportedly brokered by the DSS between the students and the University authorities on the lingering students’ protest over the hike in school fees/charges in the University.
The Union also expressed concern over the safety of its members in the University as a result of frequent insistence by the students that workers should stay away from the University campus and the directive by the University Administration that workers should resume work immediately, adding that staff of the University were being hemmed in the melee or faceoff between the students and the University Administration.
In the statement signed by Dr. Cyril Oziegbe Onogbosele and Dr. William Odion, Chairperson and Assistant Secretary of ASUU, AAU, Ekpoma respectively, the Union said that since the Special Intervention Team (SIT) and the present University Administration led by Prof. Asowman Sonnie Adagbonyin took over the management of the University, they have not demonstrated the capacity and competence to apprehend or successfully deal with conflicts and crises emanating from critical issues pertaining to staff and students in the University.
“Surely, there is trumpery, ineptitude, and cruelty by the University Administration in the handling of the school fees/charges debacle.
“When the protest by students against the betrayal by the University Administration on school fees/charges regime for returning students occurred, the first approach by the University Administration/SIT was a dissolution of the Student Union Government (SUG) – a primitive and an unreasonable path to resolving students’ problems”, the Union said.
The Union recalled “Initially, when there was an upward review in the school fees for incoming students, the University Administration stated categorically that the returning students were not affected by the change in school fees.
“However, with exposure of increase in students’ school fees/charges which the University Administration called “add-ons”, the reaction of the SUG led to the suspension of academic activities due to poor human relations and draconian measures adopted by the University authorities in dealing with the matter”.
The Union noted, “With staff unable to have access to the main campus of the University, the University Administration shamefully summoned a militarized emergency Senate meeting outside the University premises and resolved to suspend academic activities in the University indefinitely with effect from 4th September 2023.”
According to ASUU, the resolution stated that the Senate decision was informed by the need to prevent a total breakdown of law and order and to guarantee the safety of life and properties of the University and its environs.
The Union said it was startled by the circular dated 11th September 2023 by the Acting Registrar of the University, Mr. Ambrose Ehi Odiase directing all staff to resume unfailingly on 12th September 2023 to avoid sanctions.
The questions arising from this are many. Has the crisis caused by the hike in school fees/charges been resolved? Is the University campus accessible to, and safe for staff? Have students returned to campus for the commencement of lectures and other academic activities? When did the Senate direct the return of academic activities?”, the Union queried.
“It seems the University Administration/SIT have resolved to blame their failure to avert and manage the school fees/charges crisis on innocent staff, and there is also speculation that some authorities in the University are working tirelessly to blame the avoidable crisis in the University on staff and staff unions.” the union alleged.
While describing the development as disturbing, the Union stated that only sincere commitment to the resolution of the crisis would put the students’ unrest to an end.
The union therefore advised that the University Administration should dialogue with the SUG leadership and toe the path of truth in the matter so that staff should not be made scapegoats in the matter.
As the various interest groups in the university continue to banter blames, claims and counter claims, it remains to be determined how and when all critical issues surrounding the institution will be settled and the university gate open once again to both staff and students for the continuation of the 2023/2023 academic session which was supposed to end month or early November going by the academic calendar earlier released by the authorities.
The management of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, has said that its Senate will soon meet to consider the resumption of academic activities in the university after the school was shut down indefinitely three weeks ago.
The acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Asomwan Adagbonyin, stated this last Tuesday while briefing journalists at the Edo State secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Benin City on the goings-on in the University.
He explained that the alleged increase in school fees which led to student protests and the resultant closure of the institution was false, adding that fresh students had their tuition fees increased while returning students’ fees remained the same.
According to him; “There are plans to open the institution as soon as the Senate of the school meets to consider it.
“There is no increment in tuition fees of returning students of AAU and the students of the university have been allowed to pay their school fees in two instalments to reduce the burden of paying once,” he added.
He stated that management decided to close the school as the students’ protest became violent, with some of the students attacking fellow students and lecturers, inflicting injuries on them on campus, as well as preventing commendation service for a late Professor from being held on campus.
The Acting Vice-Chancellor further explained that following the infractions, management dissolved the Students Union Government leadership and set up a Caretaker Committee, vowing that erring students would be held responsible for their actions.
He described the political dimension the protest at the AAU has taken as “a deeply entrenched conspiracy” and advised those who have turned the university into a war zone to give peace a chance, just as he said a lot of misinformation was in the air and urged members of the public to get correct information from the university’s website and stop the falsehood.
Prof. Adagboyin while announcing that 90 medical students who recently graduated from the university would soon be inducted, debunked reports that the institution was offering fake degrees in mechanical and electrical engineering.
He said the university has already paid the prescribed fees to the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria for the re-accreditation of the courses whose accreditation lapsed recently.
Also, while reacting to the current situation in the Edo State-owned university, a situation which led to the Ekpoma women protesting at the university main gate, the Acting Registrar of Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma, Prof. Ambrose Odiase stated that increase in school fees is not perculiar to Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma but is sweeping across all Nigerian universities – federal, state and private citing Ekiti State University which also just released its own memo on fee increase as example, claiming that theirs is far higher than what AAU adopted.
He said, “We won’t see students or women barricading their university gate”. In his words he said. “Anything in AAUE is always taken to a frightening and diabolical dimension”.
The acting registrar who made the above expression in EDO STATE PDP FORUM WhatsApp group, also posted photo of Ekiti state university school school fee memo and said that comparison should be made between AAU school fees and other universities; adding that If the collective actions of the students and the women culminate to the closure of the University, they should have ourselves to blame.
While also claiming that the students and parents were hired to protest and block the gate, he declared that the society will bear the brunt of the consequences, adding, “Mark my words, The Oracle have spoken.”
It will be recalled that Ekpoma women in the early hours of Tuesday, September 19, 2023 barricaded the university main gate protesting against the increment of school fee for returning students of the university.
While this was on, the Management of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma in a statement issued by the Head of Corporate Communications and Protocol, Otunba Mike Ade Aladenika, explained the reason behind the dissolution of the Student Union Government (SUG), of the University in the wake of the protest that attended the “alleged increment of school fees.”
According to it, “The dissolution of the SUG and the subsequent appointment of a Caretaker Committee was occasioned by the narratives surrounding the alleged increment in school fees that led to the protest and the blocking of the school gates for days.
“It is pertinent for us, as an institution, to straighten the narratives especially as the news media and several online platforms have been awash with the news of the dissolution of Ambrose Alli University (AAU) Student Union and the setting up of a Caretaker Committee. “Several imaginary reasons have been adduced by different sections of the society, the most common being that the AAU Management dissolved the Student Union because the students embarked on a legitimate protest over hike in school fees.
”Unfortunately, “those spreading this false narrative do not seem to realise that their actions only beg the facts, he stated, adding; “More unfortunate is what ordinarily was an internal University issue which has now been so externalised to the extent that facts have been turned upside down.
“It is imperative for the University Management to make public some facts as they relate to the protest by persons who claim they are students of AAU and to let the world know that the erstwhile Student Union leaders currently protesting against alleged hike in fees, were part of the team that negotiated the same fees they are now protesting against, including the add-ons.
“It should be noted that when the then leadership threatened to shut the University gate because of some perceived issues, that of school fees was not even high up on the list of the issues.
“The only aspect of their agitation that is related to fees was the inclusion of returning (old) students in the Edo Health Insurance Scheme (EDOHIS).
“They claimed that they had reached an agreement with the Management of EDOHIS to exclude all returning students from 300L and above from the scheme.
“The students were informed that the agreement they spoke about would be implemented only if it was true and was officially communicated to the University Management.”
The AAU Head of Corporate Communications and protocols also disclosed that the management’s position was predicated on the fact that the EDOHIS as a policy of the Edo State Government is currently being implemented across all tertiary institutions in the state and the decision to waive it or to determine its method of implementation for one institution could never be arbitrary.
Hear him: “Dialogue was still ongoing between the Management and the students’ representatives, and most of the issues raised by the students then were already being addressed, when the students began the protest two days to the Edo State Local Government elections.
“Obviously, they had already decided to adopt confrontation as a strategy before pretending to be engaged in consultation. As an afterthought, the students hurriedly drafted a letter a day before the protest began and after meeting with the Acting Vice-Chancellor.
“The letter reached the Acting Vice Chancellor the same day the protest began. It is the undisputed view of Management that there is nothing wrong with peaceful protests when all other options have failed but in this case, the dialogue option had not failed.
The only problem was when the protesters now started using their rights to protest to infringe on the rights of other persons. “Not right-thinking Management would fold its arms and watch a supposed peaceful protest deteriorate into anarchy and lawlessness.
“It should also be noted that the Senate had directed that under no circumstances should the University gates be shut in the name of protests. They still dared the Senate and went ahead to lock up the University gates.” Otunba Mike Aladenika, in the statement which was made available to newsmen in Benin City, listed some of the activities of the protesters led by the erstwhile Student Union executives to include and not limited to:
“Holding students who wanted to obey Senate’s directive to vacate the campus hostage, and openly beating up some of them; violently attacking and causing injuries to persons who wanted to access their place of worship on campus. (The affected persons reported this action to the police and even threatened to embark on a reprisal attack on the protesters.) “Others were issuing threats to staff to prevent them from accessing their offices; allowing persons who are neither staff nor students of the University access to campus to hold inordinate and nocturnal meetings while chasing away and preventing staff and students from entering the campus.
“Not only these, they also prevented the ambulance conveying the corpse of a departed Professor from entering the main campus of the University and chasing mourners and sympathisers who were at the gate to attend the statutory commendation service in honour of the late Professor thereby preventing the commendation service in honour of the departed Professor from taking place; embarking on protests without first seeking and obtaining the approval of the relevant office as required.
“There are other documented infractions.
“All entreaties made by representatives of the University Management to the dissolved leaders of the Student Union to be law-abiding in their conduct fell on deaf ears. Instead, more verbal threats of physical attacks were issued to the Management’s representatives.
“Ambrose Alli University has regulations guiding the activities of students. Any breach of the matriculation oath has its prescribed sanctions and consequences.
The Management could not have looked away and allowed these acts of lawlessness to continue,” he added.
Aladenika further stated that the first step taken by the management was the immediate dissolution of the Student Union and then the setting up of a Caretaker Committee to continue the dialogue with Management on behalf of the law-abiding students; adding that those already fingered and identified as culprits in these acts of lawlessness will definitely be held accountable in due time.
Going further, he said: “On the issue of increase in School Fees for returning students, these erstwhile student leaders made attempts to misinform the public about the add-ons to the tuition fees.
“These so-called add-ons are not new to the students. They have been paying them. They include the following:
“Laboratory Dues, Student Union Dues, Alternative Subscription Model (ASM) Fee (formerly known as technology fee), Interswitch Transaction Charge, EDOHIS, Access Card (formerly ID Card), Accreditation Fees, Student Union Dues and Sports Development Fee.
“The Laboratory Dues, Faculty and Departmental Dues were hitherto paid to the respective Faculties and Departments. It was discovered that there were abuses associated with the collection of these Dues at the Departmental/Faculty levels.
“Some Departments have already been indicted and culpable staff dismissed from the services of the University.
“To guard against these abuses, these dues were integrated into the students’ portal for proper documentation and monitoring.
“The monies go to the accounts of the respective departments and faculties, not to the University Management.
“For the avoidance of doubt, these add-ons amounted to about Thirty Thousand Naira (N30,000.00) for all the programmes in the Faculties of Arts, Law, Management Sciences, Social Sciences and Environmental Studies; Thirty-Five Thousand Naira (N35,000.00) for all the programmes in the Faculties of Agriculture, Education, Engineering and Technology, Life Sciences and Physical Sciences; Sixty Thousand Naira (N60,000.00) for the Departments of Anatomy and Physiology and, Eighty Thousand Naira (N80,000.00) for the Department of Nursing and the Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences.
“The over one hundred and twenty thousand naira (N120,000.00) being bandied by the students is totally false. As a result of the ongoing repositioning of the MBBS programme, talks are currently on with critical stakeholders on what the realistic fees should be.
“The Management wishes to assure all law-abiding students of the University that whatever concerns they may have will be adequately addressed.
“They are advised to cooperate with the newly-appointed Student Caretaker Committee who have been given unfettered assess by both the Special Intervention Team (SIT) and the University Management in this regard.
“The Management admonishes all students not to allow themselves to be used to cause a breach of the peace in the University over unfounded rumours.
“They should eschew acts that are detrimental to their wellbeing as students. A lot of misinformation is in the air, and all must keep emotions aside and seek clarifications whenever in doubt”, the AAU spokesperson further declared.
While all these were on, the newly appointed caretaker committee in a release titled “OUTCOME OF THE MEETING BETWEEN THE STUDENT UNION CARETAKER COMMITTEE AND THE SPECIAL INTERVENTION TEAM SIT” outlined a three-point demand to the SIT which include;
1) Publication of all payable fee and add-ons in Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma to avoid speculations and misinformation.
2) Immediate resumption of dialogue with the University Management to address issues in contention.
3) Reopening of the university within 72 hours
On its part, the National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS), Joint Campus, Edo State axis, expressed strong disagreement with the recent appointment of a new caretaker committee by the management of the Ambrose Alli University (AAU). In a press release issued earlier today, the student association demanded the reinstatement of the duly elected executives chosen by the students themselves. They have also issued a threat to relocate their secretariat to AAU if their demands are not met.
The grouse of the association arose from the decision made by AAU’s management to install a caretaker committee to oversee the affairs of the student association, a move that has been met with significant opposition from NANS. According to NANS, the appointment disregards the democratic process through which the students’ elected representatives were chosen.
In a strongly worded statement, the student association emphasized the importance of upholding the principles of democracy and student representation. They called upon the management of AAU to recognize the legitimacy of the elected executives and reverse their decision to impose a caretaker committee.
New Caretaker Committee Appointed at Ambrose Alli University for 2022/2023 Academic Session
EKPOMA, September 13, 2023 – The Dean of Students at Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Engr. Dr. E. Ufah, issued a memo announcing the appointment of a new caretaker committee for the 2022/2023 academic session. This decision followed the dissolution of the Students Union Government.
Dr. Ufah explained that the newly appointed committee will assume the responsibilities of the Union’s leadership, adding that “The newly appointed committee is expected to assume their roles immediately.”
While appearing in an ITV RADIO “MAN AROUND TOWN” programme, the Acting Vice Chancellor of Ambrose Alli University, Prof A.S Adagboyin, had addressed what he termed the rumours of an increase in school fees and accused the dissolved Student Union Government (SUG) of being used for misinformation. The host of the programme, Efe facilitated the discussion where the AVC clarified several key points.
He categorically denied any tuition fee increment for returning students, emphasizing that only new intake students would experience changes. He dismissed the circulating figures as false and clarified that the adjustments were related to “Add-ons,” not tuition fees.
The AVC explained that the Add-ons covered various departmental dues, such as lab fees for science students, which the university now collected centrally to prevent overcharging by departments. The AVC highlighted that these dues were eventually returned to the respective departments.
Concerning the recent protests, the AVC stated that the SUG had refused negotiations and insisted on gate closures, leading to academic activities being suspended and had expressed concern over reports of student violence during the protests, including attacks on non-participating students, the seizure of motorcycles, and disruptions to university worship services.
Addressing allegations of making insensitive remarks, the AVC refuted any association with the statement, “University is not for the poor, if you don’t have money go and sit down,” he shared that his own upbringing was not affluent, and he understood the challenges students face.
The AVC stressed that the university had always been student-friendly but pointed out that certain elements were attempting to destabilize the institution. He hinted at legal consequences for those involved in violence and emphasized that beating up staff was not a solution.
On issues surrounding the dissolution of the SUG, the AVC explained that this action was taken due to a perceived increase in lawlessness and external influence like politicians. He acknowledged concerns about this move but argued it was necessary to prevent further disruption.
Shortly after the programme, the SUG President, Ibrahim Fatai, addressed the AVC’s statements on social media. He refuted claims that students were being used for political purposes and emphasized the union’s neutrality. He called for evidence if there were allegations of political sponsorship.
Also, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma Chapter has warned against any attempt to make its members the scapegoats of the present crisis rocking the University, blaming the crisis on what the union described as “glaring incompetence, ineptitude and cruelty by the University Administration in the handling of the school fees/charges debacle.”
ASUU in a press statement issued in Benin City on Tuesday, the Union said, it was disturbed by the seeming collapse of the truce purportedly brokered by the DSS between the students and the University authorities on the lingering students’ protest over the hike in school fees/charges in the University.
The Union also expressed concern over the safety of its members in the University as a result of frequent insistence by the students that workers should stay away from the University campus and the directive by the University Administration that workers should resume work immediately, adding that staff of the University were being hemmed in the melee or faceoff between the students and the University Administration.
In the statement signed by Dr. Cyril Oziegbe Onogbosele and Dr. William Odion, Chairperson and Assistant Secretary of ASUU, AAU, Ekpoma respectively, the Union said that since the Special Intervention Team (SIT) and the present University Administration led by Prof. Asowman Sonnie Adagbonyin took over the management of the University, they have not demonstrated the capacity and competence to apprehend or successfully deal with conflicts and crises emanating from critical issues pertaining to staff and students in the University.
“Surely, there is trumpery, ineptitude, and cruelty by the University Administration in the handling of the school fees/charges debacle.
“When the protest by students against the betrayal by the University Administration on school fees/charges regime for returning students occurred, the first approach by the University Administration/SIT was a dissolution of the Student Union Government (SUG) – a primitive and an unreasonable path to resolving students’ problems”, the Union said.
The Union recalled “Initially, when there was an upward review in the school fees for incoming students, the University Administration stated categorically that the returning students were not affected by the change in school fees.
“However, with exposure of increase in students’ school fees/charges which the University Administration called “add-ons”, the reaction of the SUG led to the suspension of academic activities due to poor human relations and draconian measures adopted by the University authorities in dealing with the matter”.
The Union noted, “With staff unable to have access to the main campus of the University, the University Administration shamefully summoned a militarized emergency Senate meeting outside the University premises and resolved to suspend academic activities in the University indefinitely with effect from 4th September 2023.”
According to ASUU, the resolution stated that the Senate decision was informed by the need to prevent a total breakdown of law and order and to guarantee the safety of life and properties of the University and its environs.
The Union said it was startled by the circular dated 11th September 2023 by the Acting Registrar of the University, Mr. Ambrose Ehi Odiase directing all staff to resume unfailingly on 12th September 2023 to avoid sanctions.
The questions arising from this are many. Has the crisis caused by the hike in school fees/charges been resolved? Is the University campus accessible to, and safe for staff? Have students returned to campus for the commencement of lectures and other academic activities? When did the Senate direct the return of academic activities?”, the Union queried.
“It seems the University Administration/SIT have resolved to blame their failure to avert and manage the school fees/charges crisis on innocent staff, and there is also speculation that some authorities in the University are working tirelessly to blame the avoidable crisis in the University on staff and staff unions.” the union alleged.
While describing the development as disturbing, the Union stated that only sincere commitment to the resolution of the crisis would put the students’ unrest to an end.
The union therefore advised that the University Administration should dialogue with the SUG leadership and toe the path of truth in the matter so that staff should not be made scapegoats in the matter.
As the various interest groups in the university continue to banter blames, claims and counter claims, it remains to be determined how and when all critical issues surrounding the institution will be settled and the university gate open once again to both staff and students for the continuation of the 2023/2023 academic session which was supposed to end month or early November going by the academic calendar earlier released by the authorities.
