Makanjuola defends students' suspension
From Mohammed Abubakar, Abuja
THE Vice-Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ile-Ife, Professor Rogers Makanjuola, has restated that the institution's management would not be intimidated into reversing the suspension clamped on the two students of the institution. He also justified the presence of policemen on the campus.
Speaking to journalists at this month's inter-departmental debate of the National Universities Commission (NUC), in Abuja on Wednesday, the vice-chancellor believed that giving in to that kind of intimidation by the students would create a wrong signal, thereby making them think they can do anything and get away with it.
Makanjuola said the problem in the school began following a slight increment in some services, which were effected at the beginning of this session to provide for the materials needed for effective teaching. He added that after due consideration the rates recommended for different courses were reduced by about 50 per cent.
"We saw that there was no choice if we were to maintain the standard of our programmes. After the council approved the charges, which then ranged from between N5000 to N20, 000 per session, depending on the programme, we actually met with the students' union executive and reduced those charges by almost 50 per cent.
"In other words, they were reduced to N2,500 for part one students in Arts and N10,000 for final year medical students. We thought this would send a clear message to the students' union that we are open for negotiation but they were open to force", he said.
He added that the two students who led those who beat up students, parents and teachers were suspended, saying that the students wanted the school authorities to recall the boys.
"Part of the current problem is that the students wanted management to reverse the disciplinary action. "That we will not do. Because we must ensure that our society is protected from those who wish to disrupt it," he concluded.
