The Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin, Prof Lilian Salami has disclosed that students of the institution have threatened to beat up lecturers.
She told NTA Good Morning Nigeria breakfast show that the management of the school has concluded plans to resume academic activities in a safe and secure manner.
The plans include strict enforcement and compliance to Covid19 safety protocols which aims to protect students and members of staff from exposure to the contagious coronavirus.
She regretted that she received reports of some students who threaten to beat up lecturers should the closure of public universities persist.
During the week, ASUU expressed its reservations about school resumption after a 10-month strike action which kept students away from lectures.
The union conditionally suspended the strike on the 24th of December 2020 after series of meetings with the Ministry of Labour.
The students were only glad to return to the classrooms when the country entered the second wave of the Covid19 pandemic.
The development prompted the Presidential Task Force on Covid19 to order another stay-at-home until the 18th of January 2021 to contain the ravaging infections from the killer virus.
According to Prof Salami, “Yes, they, (students) are very restless; yes they will want to go and visit friends but we will try as much as possible – and I think all Vice Chancellors will do that – to protect our students and our staff so that we don’t unduly expose them to Covid19.
“But to think that if all of these are not taken care of, we will not reopen, I can assure you that in the next 10 years, the kids will all be home.
“We know all these deficiencies and we will continue to adjust and renovate the structures on campus. It is a gradual thing, there is no magic about it.
“On a lighter note, I have heard some students say, look, if you don’t open, we will beat up the Vice Chancellor and start beating up lecturers.
“Maybe other Vice Chancellors can take up the beatings but I can assure you that Professor Salami is too fragile to be beaten.
She added that UNIBEN has started producing automated hand washing equipment, hand sanitisers and other materials needed to contain the pandemic.