Edith CHUKU
The Management of Niger Delta University, NDU, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, has officially launched a campus-wide sensitization campaign themed: “No School Fees Payment, No Course Registration, No Exams!”
The campaign was spearheaded by the vice chancellor, Professor Allen A. Agih, and supported by other principal officers, academic staff, and faculty members.
It was aimed at reinforcing the university’s policy requiring students to pay their school fees and register their courses as prerequisites for participating in examinations.
The university management urged students that failed to fulfill this obligation to voluntarily suspend their academic program until such a time they are financially capable of continuing.
The management revealed that, “the campaign which was led personally by the Vice-Chancellor and other principal officers of the University, is to press home their demands for Students of the Niger Delta University to pay their school fees and register for their courses, as a condition for writing their Examinations.
“Failure to do that, Students are at liberty as provided by law as being enshrined in the Student Handbook, to voluntarily suspend their studies until such a time they are financially capable of resuming studies.
“The affected Student(s) can then write through his/her Dean, through his/her Head of Department to the Vice-Chancellor for resumption of studies.
“Such application will be presented to Senate for approval and the affected Student resumes for studies.
“It would be recalled that the University Authority had gone into various agreements with the Students Public and intervention from various bodies including the Bayelsa State Government and all to no avail on this same school fees matter.
“Critically, the Niger Delta University is in dire need of finances to run the Institution for better service delivery and hence the payment of school fees has become very imperative.
“Consequently, the Students on their part must have to pay their school fees to enable the University Authority run the system as well as providing basic amenities for the Students as a plow back.”
The university further urged all students to comply with the policy, stressing that school fees directly support the sustainability of academic and administrative services, including the maintenance of facilities and provision of student-centered initiatives.
