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October 19, 2024
The Commissioner for Higher Education, Isah Abubakar Tunga, explained the rationale for the school's closure.
The Kebbi State Government has ordered the closure of the College of Health Sciences, Jega, indefinitely, following a violent protest on Thursday.
The students demonstrated over claims of non-accreditation of some courses and alleged extortion by the school’s management.
A nine-man panel of inquiry has been set up by the government to investigate the unrest, led by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry for Higher Education, Hussaini Abdullahi Suru.
Suru told journalists on Friday that the panel’s mandate is to identify the causes of the protest, those leading it, lecturers involved, external influences, and to assess the damage caused to the institution’s property.
The Commissioner for Higher Education, Isah Abubakar Tunga, explained the rationale for the school's closure.
"The closure of the college became imperative in view of the fact that if the demonstration was allowed to continue, it might escalate to an uncontrollable level."
He further revealed that the protest turned violent, targeting the college provost. "Their main target is the provost. They burnt his house and completely vandalised his car.
The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the area had to take the provost to the police station to rescue his life,” Tunga said.
The panel has been given two weeks to complete its investigation and submit recommendations. The chairman of the panel assured that justice would be served within the given timeframe.
Meanwhile, SaharaReporters reported on Thursday that angry students from the College of Health Sciences and Technology in Jega, Kebbi State, have set fire to the residence of the college Provost, Haruna Saidu-Sauwa, amid accusations of extortion involving N23million in fees.
During the unrest, the provost's vehicle was also vandalised by the students.
The unrest was reportedly triggered by claims of extortion by the college management, demanding N23 million for index registration from students.
The allegations came after a newly introduced Public Health programme was merged with the Environmental Health department, requiring students to pay an additional N65,000, aside from the N30,000 already paid.
Accusing the college of extortion, students responded by stoning vehicles and setting the provost’s home on fire.
A source within the college linked the unrest to this additional financial demand, saying it caused frustration among students. Some college staff fled before security forces arrived to restore order.
Provost Haruna Saidu-Sauwa denied the allegations, calling them "fictitious, baseless, and mischievous."
He refuted claims that he had convinced any body in Oyo State to extort N23 million from the students, adding that the accusations were based on misinformation.
"How can one expect a diploma when their admission letter reads certificate?" Saidu-Sauwa asked, stressing that every student’s course details were clearly stated in their offer letter. He challenged those making the accusations to present evidence to support their claims.
The provost emphasised that the school operated a Treasury Single Account where all payments were made, and no one, including himself, had access to those funds. He also accused the media of reporting unverified stories to satisfy certain "paymasters" attempting to undermine the college.
"We are thankful no one was harmed, and we are working with security personnel to identify the organisers of the protest, which damaged my personal vehicle and other college property," he said. Saidu-Sauwa called on students and staff to remain calm while the investigation into the incident continued.
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