About 5,000 students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) risk being barred from sitting the second-semester examinations scheduled to begin on Monday over non-payment of school charges.
In a memo signed by the Registrar, Mr. Ademola Bobola, the university reiterated its strict “no payment of school charges, no examination” policy after repeated reminders to defaulters.
“The university management is in receipt of the list of students who have failed to pay their school charges despite repeated reminders.
These students have also failed to subscribe to the students’ loans being provided by the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND),” Bobola stated.
According to the memo, all efforts to encourage the affected students to either pay their fees or access the NELFUND facility had yielded no positive response.
“With the second-semester examination set to begin on Monday, Sept. 29, these students shall be barred from writing the examination if they fail to pay their school charges or subscribe to the students’ loan by NELFUND,” he warned.
Rivers State University Already Implementing Similar Policy
Earlier this year, Rivers State University (Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt) began enforcing a similar “no school fees, no exam” policy. On April 10, 2025, PUNCH Online reported that the institution implemented the rule ahead of first-semester examinations.
During a pre-examination awareness roadshow, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi cautioned students:
He warned students to resist the temptation of diverting the school fees given to them by their parents to gamble or related acts, thereby making things difficult for themselves and their sponsors.
The move at RSU highlights a growing trend in Nigerian universities to insist on proof of payment or loan access as a condition for sitting examinations.
Defaulters’ List to Be Published Monday
Bobola disclosed that the UNIBEN Senate had directed provosts, deans, directors and heads of departments to publish the list of all defaulters by 8 a.m. on Monday (today) to enable affected students confirm their status and make last-minute payments before the examinations commence.
He added that an enforcement task force headed by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) had been set up to monitor and ensure strict compliance with the directive.
“Management expects full cooperation and compliance by all stakeholders to maintain the university’s high standards,” the registrar added.