The administration at the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) has officially ended all Students’ Union Government (SUG) operations, effective immediately. This decision, conveyed via a memo from Dean of Student Affairs Prof. Geoffrey Woke under the guidance of Vice-Chancellor Prof. Princewill Chike, affects the union’s three branches as well as hall representatives.
Affected student leaders must now surrender all union assets, including keys, financial records, and identification materials, to the Dean’s office. Furthermore, these individuals have been instructed to prepare for appearances before an investigative panel, with the university warning that non-compliance will lead to disciplinary measures. The institution has not provided specific details regarding the motives for this sudden dissolution.
In response, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has denounced the move as a breach of democratic rights. NANS National President Akinteye Afeez stated that while investigating student leaders is permissible, the lack of transparency and failure to allow a fair hearing suggests an abuse of power. Afeez argued that the union represents the student body legitimately and cannot be dismantled by a mere administrative decree without proper justification.
NANS has called for the immediate suspension of the dissolution order, urging the university to pursue an impartial investigation instead. Afeez emphasized that while the association supports accountability, such processes should not serve as a tool for intimidation or the suppression of student representation. The group is currently consulting with stakeholders to defend student rights and insists that the university engage in open dialogue rather than unilateral actions.
