The Governing Council of the Federal Polytechnic, Ede in Osun State has converted the expulsion of 27 students of the institution to suspension for the 2023/2024 academic session.

The Governing Council also pardoned four students who were earlier suspended by the polytechnic management.

The polytechnic management had, on July 27, 2024, announced the expulsion of 27 students and suspension of eight others over their roles in the May 9 violent protest in the institution.

Some students had protested against the arrest of their colleagues by the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Owode, a community near the institution.

During the protest, the staff club of the polytechnic was attacked and several vehicles were damaged by the students.

However, the Governing Council at its inaugural sitting on August 21, constituted an ad-hoc committee to look into the circumstances that led to the expulsion and suspension of the students.

Addressing a news conference at the institution premises on Friday, September 6, the Chairman of the Governing Council, Prof. Taiwo Olaiya, said the affected students were pardoned based on the recommendations of the ad-hoc committee.

Olaiya added that the earlier ban placed on students’ union in the polytechnic had also been lifted.

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He said the polytechnic management had been directed to constitute faculty representatives who would see to the affairs of the union till the end of the current semester.

Olaiya added that the council also ratified the recommendation of the committee which mandated all the students of the institution to pay N10,000 damages to serve as a deterrent.

Olaiya said: “The council ratified the recommendation of the committee, and the resolution is that the expulsion of the 27 students has been converted into suspension for the 2023/2024 academic session.

“For those who were earlier suspended, they have been fully pardoned with a warning not to involve themselves in such acts again.

“Also, the council has lifted the ban placed on students union activities in the institution following the protest.

“The polytechnic management has been directed to constitute a body of the faculty representatives that will hold forth, the union position between now and the end of the semester.

“Finally, all students of the institution are to pay N10,000 each as damages to serve as a deterrent against such ugly incident in the future.”

The Star