The Senate of the University of Benin(UNIBEN )yesterday held an emergency meeting, following the protest by students of the University over months of electricity outage.
A statement signed by the University Public Relations Officer,Benedicta Ehanire, which was made available to newsmen in Benin City said the University Senate is unhappy with the protest, describing it as an “unfortunate trend,” and threatened to shut down the institution,if protest continues.
She condemned the blocking of the Benin – Lagos Expressway by the angry students.
Her Statement reads in part; “The University Senate is particularly concerned with the trend whereby the students block the federal highway thus causing hardship to travellers and other commuters.
“In the meantime, some members of the decision making body have been mandated to continue with dialogue with the students on their unrealistic demand for twenty four hours of electricity supply which they enjoyed before the University was disconnected by BEDC as a result of the disputed monthly bill of over 250 million Naira slammed on the Institution by the electricity company.
“Senate also described the two other complaints by the students about high costs of food and transportation as out of the University’s control.
“Moreover, 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 Senate commended the Management for the several steps taken so far to ensure the comfort of the students even in the face of the harsh realities in the country.”
