The Vice Chancellor, Micheal Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Prof. Maduebibisi Ofo Iwe, says the reason why the University authority is not lenient over payment of fees is that those students who are yet to pay are holding back since October and investing in illicit businesses.
Prof. Iwe, who spoke to newsmen during a press briefing on Wednesday on the backdrop of the indefinite suspension of MOUAU ensuing from students’ riots that rocked the institution on Monday and Tuesday, informed that 70% compliance on payment of fees by the students was attained on Monday due to methods applied by the University authority.
He said the University has been lenient over the years, allowing students sit for their semester exams, but the practice was stopped because students even after their exams, do not come to clear their debts rather they prefer forging certificates to participate in the NYSC scheme.
Prof. Iwe hinted that acquisition of knowledge is not done for free, saying there has been distortions in the academic calendar due to the failure of returning students of the institution to pay their charges and allow the University authority begin full lectures among others. He said due to the delays, the matriculation of new students billed for 8th December, 2023, was moved to 12th January and was eventually done on 13th January 2024.
The VC, who refuted publications in the media space that the institution increased her fees to 60%, gave a breakdown of the additions, saying that it was only 20% increment and not 60% being circulated by the media.
He said the University authority never acted irrationally by increasing the fees. Prof Iwe revealed that several meetings were held with the Student Union Government of the Institution and copy of agreements were sent to the Senate for approval before the increment was done
The VC, who lamented the high cost of running the University, said as at September last year, the institution was paying about N44m on diesel to enable her provide light and water for students whereas the total money they receive for running of the institution is N9m but the institution spends N100m monthly.
He gave a rundown of the success recorded through the use of the Biometric capturing method, informing the press that the University has been able to reduce impersonation, forgery of results which was the order of the day at MOUAU to the barest minimum, adding that he has received calls on certificate confirmation from reputable institutions, organizations around the globe,
Prof. Iwe who spoke on a wide number of areas including the destruction of facilities in the University by rioting students, introduction of no pay no exam policy, among others, decried that the rioting students could not have been stupid up to the extent of burning lecture theatre, library, attempting to loot a bank on campus among others.
He said though the number of damages are yet to be ascertained, but students will have themselves to blame for allowing miscreants join them in destroying facilities which the University authority has laboured for the past 3 years now to put in place.
On reports that he was manhandled by the rioting students, Prof. Iwe, said it was not true, revealing that he initially wanted to have interaction with students, but was forced to withdraw by the security details.
Speaking on the way forward, the University Don said the Senate of the institution will meet and take decisions on the next line of action, adding that they will also discuss and come up with punishment to be meted to bad lecturers in the institution.
He also told the press that a committee has been set up to document and make public, the total amount of proterty destroyed by the rioting students just as he lauded the Student Union Government of the institution for being alive to their responsibility and encouraging unionism.