The Authorities of the Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin, on Wednesday, 19th October, announced the indefinite closure of the college following a violent protest by the students.
According to the acting Provost of the College, Ayinla Jimoh, the decision was taken to prevent further breakdown of law and order in the college.
The students of the institution were said to have protested against plans by the authorities to disallow students who had who were yet to pay their school fees from participating in the semester exams.
The exams were scheduled to commence on Wednesday, 19th October, 2022.
It was gathered that in the process of the protest, the students allegedly hauled stones, sachet water, and missiles at some members of staff.
Also, the angry students were said to have been undaunted by the reported personal intervention of the state commissioner for Tertiary Education, Dr Afeez Abolore.
It was also gathered that members of the College of Education Academic Staff Union, COEASU, had earlier in the day met not to participate in the examinations as a protest against non-payment of their one and half months old salary arrears.
Jimoh said that the angry students allegedly damaged the personal vehicle of the Deputy Provost (Academic), among other property like the school’s board room.
He noted that over 500 students that were yet to pay their school fees, spearheaded the protest despite the intervention of the commissioner, and concerning the salary arrears, the Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, met with the college academic staff last week and promised to pay the salaries promptly, which informed the decision of the staff not to boycott the examinations.
Story: Asma’u Sani