By Moboluwade Tobiloba
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin, Professor Lilian Salami has rescinded the decision to impose N20,000 late registration fee on students of the institution.
Recall Blackbox Nigeria reported that the fee imposition was met with criticisms by students who took to the street to protest, blocking the roads to the school’s two campuses: Lagos-Benin Expressway and Ekheuna Road.
It was, however, learnt that the Vice-Chancellor reached a peace agreement with the protesting students after addressing them on Wednesday evening.
The university had earlier in the same day announced “immediate” closure of the institution, citing insecurity and the possible hijack of the protest.
The students refused to budge. Rather than complying with the directive to vacate the campus, they marched to the official lodge of the Vice-Chancellor, and “kidnapped” her.
Having seized the professor, the students forced her on a tortuous journey from her official residence to the university’s main gate on the Benin-Lagos road, on foot.
Several videos were made by the students as they trekked the long distance. Pleas by the VC to take a vehicle midway through the journey, citing tiredness, fell to deaf ears.
It was gathered that she was eventually forced to accept the terms of the protesting students as she not only rescinded the fee but also cancelled the directive for the “immediate” closure of the school.
Prof. Salami was also said to have agreed that no student would be punished or victimised for taking part in the protest, especially her “abduction”.
According to The PUNCH, the fee had been removed from the varsity portal.
