For engaging in violent demonstration on February 6, 2024, and destroying university facilities and property worth millions of naira, the students of the Federal government-owned Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike (MOUAU), Abia State, have been mandated to pay N25,000 each as reparation fee before being re-admitted.
The university authority, with the approval of the government, had suspended academic activities to prevent escalation of the crisis, setting up an investigation committee to look into the crisis.
The Vice-Chancellor (VC) of the institution, Prof. Maduebibisi Ofo Iwe, reportedly said that after studying the committee’s report and intimating the Federal Government on it, the Federal Government directed that the suspended academic activities should resume on May 19, 2024. The VC also noted that each student has been mandated to pay N25,000 reparation fees before re-admission.
Iwe said: “The students rioted violently on February 6, 2024, and to rescue lives and remaining property, the university, after receiving approval from the government, suspended academic activities indefinitely.
“The government gave us a mandate to investigate, which we did in five weeks. After the investigation, we submitted the report to the university Senate on March 28, and on April 2, the report got to the government.
“The government released the report on May 3, and directed that processes towards reopening the institution should commence. On May 6, when I presented the report, the Senate accepted it.”
The VC, who said that the processes for the resumption of academic activities would commence on Tuesday, May 7, and terminate on the scheduled May 19 date, listed other conditions that each returning student must meet to qualify for re-admission.
These include submitting a written undertaking with an affidavit endorsed by a high court, which will also be submitted to their respective heads of departments ahead of the May 19 resumption date, and, on arrival, produce the hard copy of the letter.
“They also have to register for their courses, because many did not. They are to write a letter of undertaking to be of good behavior, considering that they have contravened their matriculation oath by rioting. The letter has to be endorsed by a high court after swearing an affidavit.”
According to the VC, students still owing the university their charges for 2023/2024 session should pay them, as the institution’s regulation has no provision for the part payments.