Why Benue State University Medical Students Are Suspended – Spokesperson BSU From Lateef Taiwo Following the mixed reactions and wide condemnations over the recent suspension of 200- 600 level students of the College of Health Sciences of the Benue State University, BSU, Makurdi, management has given reasons for their action. In a statement titled why BSU Medical Students were suspended signed by Principal Assistant Registrar Information and Public Relations, Tser Vanger made available to journalists on Wednesday, in Makurdi, said it has become imperative for Management of Benue State University to put in proper perspective the reasons certain categories of Medical Students of the University were directed to proceed on a one month suspension. He recalled that on the 20th October, the University Management got wind of clandestine moves by students of the University’s College of Health Sciences to disrupt their academic activities over sundry grievances. According to the principal assistant registrar information and public relations,upon learning about the concerns of the students, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tor Iorapuu delegated the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Professor Mike Odey, and other management staff to invite them for dialogue, adding that the dialogue held and the only grievance of the students, which was the relocation of 200L medical students to Block C was appropriately handled. Vanger further explained that a report from the fallouts of the dialogue was to be submitted to the Vice-Chancellor on October 25, the same day the students decided to embark on the demonstration after all assurances they had been given during the last meeting of October 24. The statement regretted that notwithstanding the intervention of the Vice-Chancellor, while a formal submission of report to him was still being awaited, the students, on 25th October, regrouped and commenced a protest at dawn when they converged at the College of Health Sciences main entrance gate and defied all entreaties, including that of the Vice-Chancellor, to return to their lecture halls and give Management two hours to deliberate on their complaints, adding that the students remained defiant, and marched to Government house where they were addressed by the Commissioner for Health, Commissioner of Information, and the Chief of Staff to the Governor, who asked them to list their problems and choose some representatives to be led in to speak with the Governor but they refused, insisting that all of them must go in. The principal assistant registrar recalled it was at this point that the Governor’s aides and the others left the students at the Government House Roundabout where the Vice-Chancellor who had also met them, advised them to return to the campus. He said not discouraged by the attitude of the students, the Vice-Chancellor directed another high delegation of Management including the DVC, Academic to meet with the students where all issues raised were exhaustively discussed and resolutions drafted, adopted and endorsed by the Students Union President who is a Medical student and that of the Benue State University Medical Students Association,BESUMSA, expressing worry why the students surprisingly reneged on the resolutions they earlier endorsed themselves and resolved to boycott lectures. Vanger further argued that not minding the recalcitrant and adamant attitude of the students, the Vice-Chancellor convened another meeting involving all Academic Staff of the College of Health Sciences and Management of the University during which all Academic Staff of the College expressed displeasure over conduct of the students, saying it was unbecoming of students who were being trained to preside over human lives, adding that in spite of the wide condemnations of the students actions by their lecturers, they continued holding clandestine meetings planning to stage a bigger protest and possibly cause destruction. He said Security reports indicated that the students had made contact with external associates to prosecute the next phase of the protest, pointing out that it was consequent upon this and the reports emanating from the Security Unit, Students Affairs and Academic Staff of the College of Health Sciences, that the Management Committee of the University was left with no option but to suspend 200-600 level students of the College of Health Sciences for one month. However, cross section of the students actions in an interviewed by Correspondent said non of the issues they complained for was addressed. They said while some of them were moved to as hostels, there is no light, no water and above all four medical students were packed in very small hostel rooms, making it impossible for them to have a conducive environment to study and write their examinations.

Nov 2, 2023

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From Lateef Taiwo

Following the mixed reactions and wide condemnations over the recent suspension of 200- 600 level students of the College of Health Sciences of the Benue State University, BSU, Makurdi, management has given reasons for their action.

In a statement titled why BSU Medical Students were suspended signed by Principal Assistant Registrar Information and Public Relations, Tser Vanger made available to journalists on Wednesday, in Makurdi, said it has become imperative for Management of Benue State University to put in proper perspective the reasons certain categories of Medical Students of the University were directed to proceed on a one month suspension.

He recalled that on the 20th October, the University Management got wind of clandestine moves by students of the University’s College of Health Sciences to disrupt their academic activities over sundry grievances.

According to the principal assistant registrar information and public relations,upon learning about the concerns of the students, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tor Iorapuu delegated the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Professor Mike Odey, and other management staff to invite them for dialogue, adding that the dialogue held and the only grievance of the students, which was the relocation of 200L medical students to Block C was appropriately handled.

Vanger further explained that a report from the fallouts of the dialogue was to be submitted to the Vice-Chancellor on October 25, the same day the students decided to embark on the demonstration after all assurances they had been given during the last meeting of October 24.

The statement regretted that
notwithstanding the intervention of the Vice-Chancellor, while a formal submission of report to him was still being awaited, the students, on 25th October, regrouped and commenced a protest at dawn when they converged at the College of Health Sciences main entrance gate and defied all entreaties, including that of the Vice-Chancellor, to return to their lecture halls and give Management two hours to deliberate on their complaints, adding that the students
remained defiant, and marched to Government house where they were addressed by the Commissioner for Health, Commissioner of Information, and the Chief of Staff to the Governor, who asked them to list their problems and choose some representatives to be led in to speak with the Governor but they refused, insisting that all of them must go in.

The principal assistant registrar recalled it was at this point that the Governor’s aides and the others left the students at the Government House Roundabout where the Vice-Chancellor who had also met them, advised them to return to the campus.

He said not discouraged by the attitude of the students, the Vice-Chancellor directed another high delegation of Management including the DVC, Academic to meet with the students where all issues raised were exhaustively discussed and resolutions drafted, adopted and endorsed by the Students Union President who is a Medical student and that of the Benue State University Medical Students Association,BESUMSA, expressing worry why the students surprisingly reneged on the resolutions they earlier endorsed themselves and resolved to boycott lectures.

Vanger further argued that not minding the recalcitrant and adamant attitude of the students, the Vice-Chancellor convened another meeting involving all Academic Staff of the College of Health Sciences and Management of the University during which all Academic Staff of the College expressed displeasure over conduct of the students, saying it was unbecoming of students who were being trained to preside over human lives, adding that in spite of the wide condemnations of the students actions by their lecturers, they continued holding clandestine meetings planning to stage a bigger protest and possibly cause destruction.

He said Security reports indicated that the students had made contact with external associates to prosecute the next phase of the protest, pointing out that it was consequent upon this and the reports emanating from the Security Unit, Students Affairs and Academic Staff of the College of Health Sciences, that the Management Committee of the University was left with no option but to suspend 200-600 level students of the College of Health Sciences for one month.

However, cross section of the students actions in an interviewed by Correspondent said non of the issues they complained for was addressed.

They said while some of them were moved to as hostels, there is no light, no water and above all four medical students were packed in very small hostel rooms, making it impossible for them to have a conducive environment to study and write their examinations.

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