The management of the University of Port Harcourt has dissolved all activities of the Students’ Union Government with immediate effect.
The university also directed elected student leaders to hand over all union property and prepare to appear before an investigative panel.
The directive was contained in a memorandum signed by the Dean of Student Affairs, Prof. Geoffrey Woke.
The memo was issued on the instruction of the newly appointed Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Princewill Chike.
Dated July 19, the memorandum announced the dissolution of the three arms of the Students’ Union, Hall Representatives and all other union-related activities.
The university directed executive members of the union to surrender official documents, financial records, keys, identification materials and other items belonging to the union.
According to the memo, affected student leaders are expected to appear before an investigative panel whenever they are invited.
The institution warned that failure to comply with the directive would attract disciplinary action.
The university did not state the reason for the dissolution or disclose the specific matters under investigation.
Reacting to the development, the National Association of Nigerian Students condemned the action.
NANS described the dissolution as a violation of students’ democratic rights and called for the immediate reversal of the order.
The association’s National President, Akinteye Afeez, made the position known in a statement issued on Monday.
Afeez said university authorities had the right to investigate allegations involving student leaders.
He, however, insisted that such investigations must follow due process and respect the right to fair hearing.
According to him, dissolving a democratically elected union without transparency, proper procedure and clear justification amounts to an abuse of administrative power.
He said the Students’ Union remains the legitimate representative body of students and should not be dissolved through an administrative directive without explaining the grounds for the action.
Afeez argued that affected student officials should first be informed of the allegations against them.
He said they should also be given a fair opportunity to respond before any major disciplinary or administrative decision is taken.
The NANS president also questioned the directive asking union leaders to submit documents and financial records before appearing before the investigative panel.
He said the sequence raised concerns about the fairness, transparency and independence of the investigation.
Afeez called on the university management to suspend implementation of the dissolution order.
He also demanded that the institution publicly disclose the reasons behind the action.
NANS further called for the creation of an impartial investigative panel to examine the matter.
The association said all affected student leaders must be guaranteed fair hearing throughout the process.
Afeez urged the university authorities to avoid intimidation, victimisation or disciplinary action against student leaders for carrying out their representative duties.
He said NANS was not opposed to accountability and would support sanctions against any student leader found guilty of misconduct after due process.
However, he warned that accountability should not be used as an excuse to weaken democratic structures or suppress student representation on campus.
The NANS president advised UNIPORT management to resolve the dispute through dialogue, transparent investigation and adherence to established procedures.
He disclosed that the association had begun consultations with relevant stakeholders.
Afeez said NANS would use lawful means to protect students’ rights and democratic institutions in the university.
He reiterated the association’s demand for the immediate reversal of the dissolution order pending the outcome of a credible and impartial investigation.
