Over 5,000 UNIBEN students face exam ban over unpaid fees

More than 5,000 students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) risk being barred from sitting for the second-semester examinations due to their failure to pay school charges.

The examinations are scheduled to begin on Monday, September 29,

In a memo issued by Ademola Bobola, the Registrar, Ademola Bobola, the institution reaffirmed its strict enforcement of the “no payment of school charges, no examination” policy, stressing that repeated reminders to defaulters had gone unheeded.

“The university management is in receipt of the list of students who have failed to pay their school charges despite repeated reminders,” Bobola stated.

He added that the affected students also neglected to apply for loans available through the Nigerian Education Students’ Loan Fund (NELFUND).

“These students have also failed to subscribe to students’ loans being provided by the Nigerian Education Students’ Loan Fund (NELFUND),” he said.

The registrar noted that all efforts to encourage the students to either settle their fees or access the loan facility had proved unsuccessful.

“With the second semester examination set to begin on Monday, Sept. 29, these students shall be barred from writing the examination, if they fail to pay their school charges, or subscribe to the students’ loan by NELFUND,” Bobola warned.

He further disclosed that the university Senate had instructed Provosts, Deans, Directors, and Heads of Departments to release the list of all defaulters by 8 a.m. on Monday.

The aim, he said, was to allow affected students to confirm their status and make last-minute payments before the examinations commence.

According to Bobola, an enforcement task force, chaired by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), has also been constituted to oversee compliance.

“Management expects full cooperation and compliance by all stakeholders to maintain the university’s high standards,” the registrar stated.