Beneficiaries of the Nigerian government’s Amnesty Programme currently studying at the Igbinedion University in Okada, Edo State have shut down the school hostel in protest of unpaid stipends.

The students, who locked up the gates to the school hostel alleged that the amnesty office had not paid them monthly stipends for six months, also threatened to disrupt the semester examinations starting next week.

The protesters said “Here in this school, we are living from hand to mouth. This is not what we negotiated for.”

The spokesperson for the institution, Jide Ilugbo, expressed optimism that there would be a quick resolution of the crisis by the relevant authorities.

He said the amnesty office was expected to resolve the issue before commencement of examinations. “We are very optimistic that the Federal Government will yield to their demands on time,” he added.