More than 5,000 students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) may be barred from sitting for their second-semester examinations, which are scheduled to begin on Monday, due to their failure to pay school charges.
In a circular issued by the Registrar, Mr Ademola Bobola, the university reiterated its policy of “no payment of school charges, no examination”, stressing that students had repeatedly been reminded of their financial obligations without response.
“The university management is in receipt of the list of students who have failed to pay their school charges despite repeated reminders,” the memo read.
Mr Bobola noted that the affected students had also failed to subscribe to the students’ loan scheme provided by the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), an initiative designed to offer financial relief to struggling students.
“All efforts to encourage the affected students to either pay their fees or access the NELFUND facility have yielded no positive response,” the Registrar added.
READ ALSO: No ₦71bn missing from student loan programme – NELFUND clarifies
To enforce the policy, the university’s Senate has directed provosts, deans, directors, and heads of departments to publish the list of defaulters by 8:00 a.m. on Monday. The list is intended to give students a final opportunity to verify their status and make last-minute payments before examinations commence.
An enforcement task force, headed by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), has also been constituted to ensure strict compliance with the directive.
“Management expects full cooperation and compliance by all stakeholders to maintain the university’s high standards,” Mr Bobola stated.
The development follows a similar trend in other Nigerian universities. In April 2025, Rivers State University in Port Harcourt enforced its own “no school fees, no exam” policy. The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Isaac Zeb-Obipi, during a campus roadshow, warned students against misusing funds meant for tuition, particularly on gambling and other distractions.
As Nigeria’s public tertiary institutions continue to grapple with funding challenges, universities appear increasingly committed to enforcing payment compliance, even if it means disrupting the academic progress of thousands of students.
