The Students' Union Government representing the 77+1 University of Benin students have been suspended on Monday by the school management over the crisis occurred between the students' head and the senior lecturers at the Senior staff club recently.
Early on Monday, the UNIBEN ASUU protested in a memo stating there would be an indefinite strike if members of the Students’ Union were not sanctioned over the alleged attack on their injured staff member.
However, the committee was set by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Lilian Salami who spoke with All Campus Show via phone from United States of America some days after the incident, Prof. Salami said the committee will carry the investigation and give the right decision, although a source made it known to All Campus Show that the management will give the conclusion on Wednesday as a result of the ongoing investigation, but unexpectedly, the conclusion came immediately after the ASUU memo.
Speaking with the Public Relation Officer of the institution, Princess Benedicta Enahire on Monday in her office, she told the All Campus Show correspondents that the committee has been set for that; the public will hear the conclusion from the committee soon.
Following the consideration of the report by the Investigation Panel on Monday, the 𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐁𝐄𝐍 management announced the indefinite suspension of Students’ Union just as protested in a memo by the UNIBEN ASUU.
A Caretaker Committee comprising of representatives from each of the Faculty in the school has been approved by management to now oversee the affairs of students activities during the period.
According to Dr. Owin, the president of the senior staff club who spoke to All Campus Show correspondents on Monday in his office, Dr. Owin condemned the attack at staff club by the students leader.
In his statement, he said "I would not have granted the interview because I am loyal to my boss the VC, the respect I have for the management and because you came from the student committee and I think the student committee deserves to also hear my version hence I granted it."
Dr. Owin shared his experience at the scene with our correspondents, he said he tried to calm the crisis but was not allowed to talk to the SUG President who was guided by some people.
Dr. Owin described himself as an alumnus of the University of Benin. "I was a distinction and a first class student from my degree level to the time I was running my Masters and Doctorate in this same school, I was a Secretary General of National Association of Mathematics Students of Nigeria as a student and now it's a privileged to lecture with my teachers, this means I was not rude to them as a student.
"Therefore, the club does not allow any students to enter the premises, it is written at the entrance 'No sticker, no entering' I did not know where the SUG president saw the students in the club, if there is any younger persons in the club, they should be part of the entourage that came with the Governorship candidate and if there was anything, noone has right to take laws in his hand, instead of the attacking, the Union should have reported the matter to the authority or security."
Meanwhile, after reaching out to the staff club in order to see the scene, All Campus Show visited the injured lecturer on Monday, Dr. Presley Osemwengie who is on special neck brace told us he would not want to grant any interview but will only like to have an interaction with the pressmen, there was a chitchat which base on him waiting for the conclusion of the committee set by the Vice Chancellor before making or allowing interview.
Although, All Campus Show noted that Nigerian Students are the best set of students in the whole world with the support of the Nigerian tertiary institutions lecturers, the crisis between the two parties can be described as an accident, it's an unplanned incident.
Moreso, the circular released by the management and signed by the varsity's registrar, A.A Bobola has been rejected, Students who are already protesting on social media, requesting the need for the suspension of the students union.
Responses have flying from the students that the management should have faced the person who had problem with the lecturers not the whole Students body.
It's now noted that the students are not comfortable with circular titled 'Suspension of UNIBEN Students' Union'