AAU Students Protest Against N20,000 Late Registration Penalty

Academic and commercial activities at Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, ground to a halt on Thursday as students protested their inability to register for courses.

Thousands of students blocked the entrance gate to the main campus as early as 6:30 am, barring lecturers, students, and staff from entering the school premises.

Speaking anonymously, a lecturer expressed frustration at being unable to access the campus for over an hour. The protest stemmed from students’ frustration with course registration difficulties and the N20,000 penalty for late registration.

“The students were concerned that the management wouldn’t address their grievances. Consequently, they barricaded the entrance gate, preventing both students and staff from entering,” the lecturer explained.

He noted that the students faced network challenges in registering for courses, with the deadline being that day. Failure to register on time would incur a hefty penalty.

The protest primarily involved students from the faculties of law and management sciences, with many alleging improper departmental transfers via an unfamiliar “proceeding list.”

In response to the protest, the university’s Senate scheduled an emergency meeting, as outlined in a memorandum issued by the Acting Registrar, Mr. Ambrose Odiase. The meeting, scheduled for June 6, 2024, aimed to address urgent matters, including course registration and the proceeding list for law students.

The Senate ultimately extended the registration period by two weeks.