By Deborah Ogunmola & Joy Raphael
As early as 7 a.m on September 14, 2021, the students of the University of Benin stormed the university main gate extending to the Benin-Ore road to protest over the #20,000 increment of school fees due to late payment, and subsequent voluntary withdrawal, failure to meet up with the 17th of September deadline. Whilst some students hope and are certain the protest yields result, some road commuters doubt and are certain it will not yield result.
Uniben parent supports school management
A bus transit driver, on his way to Lagos, whose child schools in Uniben register his displeasure in the protest. “The protest is so not right”, he said. He has been on the Benin-Ore road since 7:25 a.m and feels the students are selfish for making their issues shut down the lives of other persons. The deadline for the payment of school fees has been made early enough for students to prepare financially, hence, the deadline is fair and the protest is uncalled for. He agrees that we do not have an ideal system in Nigeria but still questions the efforts of the students to reach the management.
“Those who are self sponsoring, what have they done? Because the school has a system. Have you come together as a group or as individuals and written to your registrar who is the head of admission?
Uniben lectures automatically on strike
A Uniben student while echoing her grievance said the protest has automatically placed lecturers on strike since all class activities have been disrupted by the protestants. He wants the strike to continue till the students are listened to. He pleads with the VC to lift the #20,000 increment. “Person wey no get 45k to pay now, how e wan get 65k?” He said.
Best venue for protest
Another student who has paid her fees in her opinion supported the protest and is certain it will yield result if the Benin-Ore road is used as venue for the protest. According to her, the Benin – Ore road is the best venue to rapidly spread the news since it will affect major transport activity in Benin. She expresses her displeasure in the voluntary withdrawal. “The withdrawal is a bad idea,” she said.
Inconvienient protest
A commercial driver who identified himself as having graduated from Uniben 23 years ago said the protest is causing inconvenience in the transport movement and is unfair to them. He expects the students to block only main gate, and not disrupt other people from getting their daily bread. He sees no point in the protest because it has never yield result and will not yield result.
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