From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi
Vice Chancellor, Benue State University, BSU Prof Tor Iorapuu has decried the huge amount of over 1.82 billion naira owed the institution by students refusal to pay registration fees.
Prof. Iorapuu who made the lamentation yesterday while speaking with journalists in Makurdi, disclosed that the amount has accumulated between 2010 to 2019, frowning that this has to a very large extent affected 2015 to 2017 results because students do not register but only come to school to write examination.
He said lectures have been turned into a market place where you just go and buy clothes or anything.
The Vice Chancellor said within the short period of time he came on board, the management has insisted on doing the right thing and made some remarkabke achievements.
“We met a lot of rot in the institution. These few months we insisted on doing the right thing, we have achieved remarkable improvements. We have a population of 24,135 students and out of this number, 19,818 are registered representing 82 percent. This have not been achieved in a very long time. 997 paid but did not register representing 4 percent which include some 300 and 400 level students while about 3,320 students have not paid at all and have been attending lectures, representing 13 percent.
“This is worrisome. How do we raise funds to fix facilities in the school. We do not get any subvention from the State government apart from payment of salaries. Parents give their children/wards money and they spend it on other things. Then they turn around and complain of not seeing their results. We are working hard to ensure prompt release of results. In the last five years, students do not see their second semester results. For the first time, results of March examination have been released.
“I urge students to preoccupy themselves with their lectures and prompt release of their results rather than engage on social media, heaping insults on the management of the school. The same institution you want to issue you certificate at the completion of your studies. There are several interests both within and outside the institution that is fighting me but I believe in dialogue. That I did with the Student Union and we agreed that the portal should be open today (Monday)by 12pm to 6pm tomorrow (Tuesday) to allow those yet to register to do so.
