By Onome Oghenetega
The Senate of the University of Benin on Wednesday threatened to shut down the institution if the protest embarked upon by students over the power outage in the two campuses persists.
It, however, disclosed that the management of the institution would continue to dialogue with the protesting students over what it described as “unrealistic demands” by the students.
Rising from an emergency meeting of the institution late Wednesday evening, UNIBEN Senate said the school cannot provide 24hrs supply on both campuses.
The statement signed by the institution’s Public Relations Officer, Dr. Benedicta Ehanire, assured that management will continue to both campuses conducive for students.
UNIBEN students had on Wednesday blocked the busy Benin-Lagos Highway over the power and water supply in the school.
Power supply to Ugbowo and Ekhewan campuses had nosedived after the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) disconnected the school from public supply over a dispute N250million bill.
Dr. Ehanire said Senate also described as unfortunate the blocking of federal highways by the protesting students.
The statement read, “The Senate of the University of Benin has held an emergency meeting, following the early morning protest by students of the University .
“While describing the students’ action as unfortunate, 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.”
