• Mutfwang sacks varsity VC, heads of tertiary institutions
Management of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, Abia State, yesterday, shut down the university indefinitely, advising students to vacate the university premises immediately or not later than 05:00 p.m.
In a statement titled, ‘Indefinite Shutdown of The University and Suspension of Academic Activities,’ the Vice Chancellor (VC), Prof. Maduebibisi Ofo Iwe, informed the public that the university community woke up in the morning to experience the violation of the long existing peace of the university.
“Miscreants took over the university, chasing and pursuing the Vice-Chancellor, damaging his official vehicle and those of his officials, and claiming that they were not allowed to take their first semester examination due to failure to pay their charges.”
“The university’s record shows that more than 70 per cent of the students had paid their charges, and were peacefully taking their examinations. More than 2,000 were on the queue to pay and register their courses before the hoodlums took the stage to cause trouble, disrupting the long-standing peace of the university.”
According to the VC, it was to safeguard life and university property that the university management, on behalf of the Senate, ordered the shutdown of the university indefinitely, advising all students to vacate the premises not later than 05:00 p.m. yesterday.
It was gathered that the students were protesting against what they called “no school fees, no examination policy of the university” when those that did not pay the fees were allegedly prevented from writing the semester examination that commenced on Monday.
ALSO, Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State has sacked the Vice Chancellor (VC) of the state university, Prof. Bernard Matau.A statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Samuel Jatau, confirmed the development yesterday.
Matau became the VC of the state university while serving as the Commissioner for Higher Education in the last administration of Governor Simon Lalong.
The VC, who is yet to complete his tenure, was ousted alongside four other heads of tertiary institutions in the state, including the Rector of the Plateau State Polytechnic, Barkin Ladi; Provost, College of Health Technology, Pankshin; Provost, College of Health Technology, Zawan, as well as the Provost, College of Education, Gindiri.
