7th July, 2021
By Funmilola Olukomaiya
The Niger Delta University (NDU) owned by the Bayelsa State government has been shut down indefinitely following protests by students over hike in school fees and imposition of dress codes.
The students on Wednesday staged a peaceful protest in Amasoma and Yenegoa, the state capital, to relay their displeasure over the hike in school fees, early closure of the school fee portal and a recent order by management for students to wear uniforms to avoid indecent dressing in school premises.
Niger Delta University was shut on Wednesday after an announcement made by the registrar, Mr. Benjamin Joffa.
The letter reads “Following the ongoing unrest in the university, I am directed to inform the general public and the university community that academics activities have been suspended indefinitely with immediate effect.
“Consequently, all students are directed to vacate the university campuses and its facilities before 3 pm.”
The recent development which threw the student community into protests has also been greeted by condemnation and call for the sack of the school leadership.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Edoumiekumo had on Monday, ordered the closure of the school payment portal, adding that any student yet to pay for his/her clearance will have their admission withdrawn and sent home.
Edoumiekumo also said wearing uniforms by students of the institution will be made compulsory and that the said uniforms will only be made available for sales through the school management.
However, a former Chairman of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Egbemo Clan Central Zone, Comrade Daniel Sapele, called for the sack of the Vice-Chancellor, describing his actions as not only unlawful, inhuman but also wicked and barbaric.
In his reaction, Sapele said “The declaration by the Vice-Chancellor that all engineering students henceforth, must be on school uniform and that the uniform must be the one the school authority will provide at a cost of thirty thousand naira (N30,000) for Marine Engineering students, while students from other engineering departments must have their uniforms at the rate of twenty thousand naira (N20,000), shows he is not a good father.
“Many homes are finding it very hard to feed due to the effects of the global pandemic and Nigeria’s current economic maladies and not to talk of paying such huge needless amount of money as learning fees.
“Education is the birth-right of all Bayelsans and the government at all levels are under obligation to provide not just quality but education that’s accessible and affordable and not the way and manner the VC. is running the institution like his private farm.
“The VC runs the school like his private estate without recourse to public sympathy and human feelings which is the bedrock upon which all government institutions are founded, and if he isn’t sacked and replaced with someone with human feelings and conscience all efforts and legacies previous administrations have contributed to the advancement of one of the most revered tertiary institutions in heart of the Niger Delta will go down the drain,” he added
Hon. Timi Tubonimi, Director-General, Centre for Women and Youth Development, Bayelsa State Constituency 1, pleaded with the university management to consider students and reopen the school fees portal, to enable students who have not paid school fees for the past session to pay.
Tubonimi in her statement through a media aide urged the management to reopen the portal for one month bcos about 80% of students are currently affected.
Meanwhile, the state government through the Commissioner for Education, Dr. Emelah Gentle has called for calm, noting that the government has met with the management of the institution and all issues would be resolved accordingly.
The Commissioner made this known after meeting with the Pro-Chancellor of Niger Delta University, Mathew Seiyefa, Msi., the Vice-Chancellor, Niger Delta University, Prof. Samuel Gowon Edoumiekumo, in his office at the Education House, Ovom, Yenagoa.
According to reports, the government received the communique issued by NDU students to the Bayelsa State Student Management Committee-SMC, that earlier visited the institution to interface directly with the protesting students.
The Commissioner also disclosed that all pressing issues raised were discussed extensively with the leadership of the University.
He added that Government has taken a stand and has communicated the same to the management of the University to work with.
As at press time, NDU management was in a crucial meeting with members of the State House of Assembly at the Assembly complex in Yenagoa.