A wave of frustration is sweeping through the University of Benin (UNIBEN) as several students allege they were wrongly marked absent in courses they claim to have fully participated in, raising concerns over possible administrative lapses within the institution.
The affected students, who spoke through an anonymous statement, said the issue is not linked to truancy or academic negligence, but rather what they described as systemic errors that have left them unfairly penalised.
According to the statement, the students maintained consistent attendance at lectures, participated in continuous assessments, submitted assignments, and sat for examinations as required.
“We followed every instruction carefully. There was no confusion, no absence, and no mistake — at least, none from our side,” the anonymous writer stated.
However, upon the release of results, many students said they were shocked to discover they had been assigned “ABS” — indicating absence — instead of receiving grades.
The development, they noted, effectively invalidates their academic efforts and suggests they failed to meet course requirements.
Following the discovery, affected students reportedly lodged complaints with course advisers, lecturers, and departmental offices, presenting evidence including attendance records and test scripts.
Despite repeated follow-ups, the response from authorities was largely described as non-committal.
“The response was almost always the same: ‘Don’t worry, it’s being worked on,’” the statement said, adding that weeks of waiting turned into months without resolution.
In what many students described as a second blow, some were later advised to retake the affected courses as carryovers — a move they argue amounts to punishment for an error not of their making.
“This is not just an administrative error — it is a system failure that shifts the burden of correction onto the victim,” the statement added.
Students warned that the situation could have far-reaching implications, including delayed graduation, financial strain from extended academic sessions, and emotional distress. They also expressed concerns over declining confidence in the institution’s academic processes.
The affected group called on the university management to urgently investigate the matter, correct verified errors without forcing students into retaking courses, and improve communication channels between staff and students.
They further urged the institution to strengthen its academic record systems to prevent a recurrence. “This is not about favours; it is about fairness and accountability,” the statement noted.
University authorities had yet to issue an official response on the allegations as of the time of filing this report.
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