Authorities of the Lagos State University (LASU) Thursday ordered the indefinite closure of the institution  following a violent protest by students over the registration process for the rain semester examination.

Their counterparts at the Federal University, Otueke, President Goodluck Jonathan's hometown in Bayelsa State, also rioted over alleged hike in school fees.

A statement by LASU, announcing the closure of the school, read:  “In the wake of the violent protest by some affected students of Lagos State University (LASU) over the closure of the university portal for registration of courses for rain semester 2012/2013 examination, the university management has decided to shut down the university indefinitely. Also, examinations have been put off till further notice.
 

"With this decision, students are expected to vacate the university premises until further notice.”
The  students had begun the protest on Wednesday over the closure of the portal but it turned violent yesterday as they were alleged to have stoned the Vice-Chancellor, Professor John Obafunwa.
It was learnt that the students were required to register online to sit for the examination but only 708 students were able to do so, leaving out about 1,292 others.

According to sources, the VC had angered the students when during a visit by officials of the student union government  to plead for an extension of time for registration, he reportedly  told them that those yet to register were insignificant and would automatically have to carry the session over.
This sparked a protest that later turned violent.

However, in the wake of the protest, the Lagos State House of Assembly has summoned the Chairman of LASU  Governing Council, Mr. Bode Agusto, and Obafunwa to appear before it today.
 

The assembly, at a session yesterday presided over by the Speaker, Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, also summoned Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Yinka Oladunjoye;  Special Adviser on Education, Mr. Fatai Olukoga; five representatives of the students' union and three representatives of the school ruling council.

The assembly took the decision while deliberating on a motion on matters of public importance moved  by the Chairman of the House Committee on Education, Science and Technology, Hon. Wahab Alawiye King.
While LASU students were protesting the inability of many of them to register for examination, their counterparts at the Federal University, Otueke in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, disrupted activities on campus over increase in school fees.
 

The angry students defied the heavy presence of soldiers on security duty at the presidential guest house, opposite the school, to shut down the institution.

The students barricaded the two roads leading to the Otuoke community and the institution and were said to have locked up principal officers of the school in their offices over the increase in the school fees from N55,000 to N85,000 .
 

The students lamented that the increase in the   tuition fees was not commensurate with facilities in the school.
But  Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Mobolaji Aluko, denied increasing the school fees.
He said the fees were charged according to the three sets of students that had so far gained admissions to the school.

"When the pioneers came in, their fees were N45,000 for tuition and accommodation. By the end of their first year before this second set came in, we increased it to N50,000, but separated the accommodation fees from it. It is for pioneer students and they will pay that until they graduate,"  he added.