Prof Sonnie Adagbonyin
* They are mere untruth, blackmail for political gains, he says
By Kingsley Abavo, Benin
Members of the public have been urged to ignore all the unpalatable stories which for awhile have been peddled in the media, against the Management of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma.
They are mere untruth and cheap blackmail for political profit by mischief makers; the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Sunny Adagbonyin said.
The Vice Chancellor on Tuesday, 19 September, 2023 led top members of Management to brief journalists about the true state of affairs in the University.
On the arbitrary increase of school fees across board, Prof. Adagbonyin denied the allegation saying returning students are not affected contrary to insinuations that fees have been increased to between 100 – 200 percent.
Condemning the students protest, he told journalists that the erstwhile students’ leader who is the mastermind, was part of negotiations with the former Management of the University.
Surprisingly, the dialogue had not failed before the protest, Prof Adagbonyin said.
He explained; levies incorporated in the school fees of the University, are State Government policy in which all tertiary institutions owned by the State Government, are captured with AAU paying the least.
Further, he explained; Add ons are mandatory charges outside the tuition fees. SUG, tech fees, access card, accreditation fees which was negotiated with the students and was agreed to be N,3000. Total Add ons: N50,200. So, allegation of the payment of N120,000 is not true, he said.
But to help ease the burden, students are permitted by the University’s Management to pay school fees at two installments, to make room for affordability the Vice Chancellor disclosed.
Continuing, he reminded: there is a standing law by Senate of the University; that on no condition should the gate of the institution be locked, but the erstwhile students leader went ahead to lock the gates.
“Like every other tertiary institutions, AAU has its laws regulating the conduct of students which they flagrantly ignored to protest; infringing the rights of others.
“Any breach of the matriculation oaths of students, attracts the necessary sanctions,” he stated.
However appealing for calm in the University, Prof. Adagbonyin called on those he termed; merchants of crisis to shealthe their swords and give peace a chance.
He adds that the falsehoods and blackmail be brought to a halt so that the University can thrive in peace.
Responding to a question by journalists, the Vice Chancellor explained that the Students Union Caretaker Committee is a child of necessity; to halt the drift caused by the deviant students.
This is as he debunked reports in some media platforms recently, which said accreditation for the courses of mechanical and electrical engineering had been withdrawn.
The accreditation for the courses only expired and needed to be renewed, he explained.
Consequently, the University has paid for the renewal of the accreditation of the courses to enable COREN give its approval, he disclosed.
Other members of Management who were at the briefing includes; comrade E. Odiase, dep acting VC, Prof O. Aguida, and Otunba Mike Aladenika, Head, Communication and Protocol dept.
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