Reps invite UNIPORT VC for withholding 1,227 degree certificates

Okenyi Kenechi

The House of Representatives Committee on Public Petition has asked the Vice-Chancellor of the University Of Port Harcourt to appear before it to answer questions over the petition written against him by some graduates of the institution.

The One thousand, two hundred and twenty-seven graduates had on the 18th of August petitioned Prof. Ndowa Lale, Uniport’s Vice-Chancellor and the university to the House of Representatives for the refusal of the institution to mobilize them for national youth service.

The petition was sent to the House of Representatives through Hon. Engr. Solomon Adaelu, member representing Obingwa, Osisioma and Ugwunagbo Federal Constituency who presented and submitted it on the floor of the House.

The graduates said the school is withholding their Degree Certificates and refusing to mobilize them for the compulsory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) because they paid their final year school fees late.

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The petition came after a federal high court sitting in Port Harcourt ordered the institution to mobilize the students for national service, a decision the university has since appealed.

In the petition addressed to the Speaker, Federal House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajiabimila through Hon. Engr. Solomon Adaelu, the students unambiguously stated that they were duly admitted into the University of Port Harcourt and into their various departments, passed through successive levels, paid fees, wrote and passed all the examinations prescribed.

They added that the Senate approved them for graduation, had their names published on the 31st Convocation Brochure of the University.

They, however, explained that when it was time for clearance and offsetting of fees, the University Bursar informed them that there was a directive from the Vice-Chancellor that students who failed to pay their fees before the 4th day of October 2016 should not be graduated but should repeat the final year, notwithstanding the fact that they have all passed their final year examinations.

They said that they challenged the decision of the University at the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt.

According to them, before challenging the matter at the court, some students succumbed to the school’s demand, repeated their final year despite having passed it earlier but were coerced to pay another school fees for 2015/2016 academic session.

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The student stated that despite repeating their passed class of 2015/2016 Academic session in 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 sessions and paying another round of fees, the school has yet refused to graduate or issue them their certificates and mobilize them for the compulsory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

They said at the Federal High Court Port Harcourt ordered the school to graduate them, mobilize them for the compulsory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and refund them the school fees illegally collected from them in 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 academic session. However, the University refused to comply but rather approached the Court of Appeal.

They said the decision of the institution has caused them depression and they have been frustrated by the appeal filed by the University with the ultimate aim of keeping them stranded and of course helpless.

The committee chaired by Jerry Alagbaoso in a letter dated 16th of October asked the Vice-Chancellor to appear before it on October 30 to answer questions on the petition written against him by the graduates.