The University Management, pursuant to a thorough forensic audit of the student fee portal conducted for the 2025/2026 Academic Session, has issued this high-priority administrative circular through the Office of the Registrar. The audit findings are stark and unequivocal: approximately 60% of the student population has yet to discharge their statutory tuition and other prescribed charges, resulting in a significant revenue shortfall that directly jeopardizes the seamless delivery of core academic services, including examination administration, facility maintenance, staff welfare, and resource procurement.
Signed personally by the Registrar, Dr. Bala I. Ahmed II, this notice marks the definitive transition from an extended grace period of leniency to a rigorous, non-negotiable enforcement regime. The Governing Council, Senate, and Principal Officers have unanimously aligned behind this directive to safeguard the university’s fiscal health and ensure that no student is inadvertently disadvantaged by systemic disruptions arising from chronic non-compliance.
Reaffirmation of the “No Fee, No Exam” Policy – A Senate-Ratified Imperative
The cornerstone of this circular is the unequivocal reinstatement and strengthening of the university’s long-standing “No Fee, No Exam” eligibility criterion for all First Semester examinations. As ratified by the University Senate at its most recent statutory meeting, this policy admits of no exceptions:
- Absolute Restriction: Any student lacking a fully validated, university-issued receipt confirming 100% settlement of 2025/2026 session fees (including tuition, development levy, faculty/departmental charges, and any outstanding arrears from prior sessions) will be categorically barred from entering examination halls or accessing Computer-Based Test (CBT) centers.
- Operational Rationale: Tuition and ancillary fees constitute the primary funding stream sustaining examination logistics—procurement of question papers and answer booklets, invigilation allowances, CBT infrastructure maintenance, power supply, result-processing software licenses, and post-examination moderation exercises. Persistent shortfalls erode these critical enablers, risking delayed results, compromised academic calendar integrity, and potential accreditation challenges.
- Imminent Deadline Implication: Although no single “cut-off date” is enumerated in this immediate advisory (owing to the fluid nature of payment processing), the circular’s timing—issued on the cusp of the examination timetable—signals that the window for late registration, installment payments, or waiver considerations is effectively closing. Students are strongly cautioned that payments effected too close to examination commencement may not receive Bursary validation in time.
Pillar I: Multi-Layered Institutional Enforcement Architecture
This directive reflects a synchronized, whole-of-university governance response, evidenced by the extensive “CC” distribution list encompassing the Vice-Chancellor, Deputy Vice-Chancellors, Bursar, Deans, Directors, Heads of Departments, Chief Security Officer, Students’ Affairs Division, and Information Unit.
- Bursary Unit: Mandated to generate and circulate real-time “Compliant Student Lists” (daily updates) to all Faculties, Departments, and Examination Officers for cross-verification.
- Deans, Directors, and Heads of Departments: Personally accountable for briefing invigilators and examination coordinators to conduct mandatory pre-entry checks—matching student ID cards, matriculation numbers, and course registration forms against the official paid list. Non-compliance by any staff member will attract disciplinary review.
- Security Architecture: The Chief Security Officer and University Security Unit are directed to deploy adequate personnel at all examination venues to enforce orderly exclusion of ineligible candidates, prevent unauthorized access or disruption, and maintain campus peace during this sensitive period.
- Information Dissemination: The Public Relations and ICT Units will amplify this notice via portal pop-ups, SMS blasts, official social media channels, departmental notice boards, and campus radio to guarantee maximum reach—even to off-campus students.
Pillar II: Strategic Guidance and Proactive Counsel to Students – “A Stitch in Time Saves Nine”
Echoing the timeless wisdom invoked by the Registrar, this circular serves as an urgent, compassionate appeal to avert self-inflicted academic catastrophe. Historical patterns demonstrate that last-minute rushes precipitate avoidable crises:
- Digital Payment Bottlenecks: Surge traffic on Remita and other gateways frequently results in transaction delays, “pending” statuses, failed debits, or receipts not reflecting instantly in the university portal.
- Bursary Validation Lag: Even successful online payments require manual Bursary stamping and portal synchronization—a process that cannot be expedited on the morning of an examination.
- Psychological and Cognitive Impact: The anxiety of unresolved fee status during peak revision or actual examination periods measurably impairs concentration, recall, and overall performance—turning what should be a demonstration of competence into a high-stress ordeal.
- Preventive Imperative: Students are therefore implored to treat fee settlement as a top-priority academic task, ideally completed well in advance of the examination diet to allow full focus on scholarship.
Pillar III: Step-by-Step Administrative Workflow for Swift Compliance
To facilitate immediate resolution and minimize friction, students must adhere rigorously to the established financial clearance pipeline:
- Invoice Generation: Access the student portal (via the university website), log in with matriculation number and password, and generate the current session’s Remita Retrieval Reference (RRR) or institutional invoice.
- Payment Execution: Effect payment through any approved commercial bank branch, ATM, USSD code, mobile banking app, or the integrated online gateway. Retain transaction reference numbers and e-receipts.
- Bursary Validation & Stamping: Promptly present payment evidence (e-receipt/printout) at the Bursary Unit for official “Red-Stamped” clearance receipt issuance and portal status update to “Paid/Compliant.”
- Final Course Registration Confirmation: Upon clearance, revisit the portal to complete/finalize course registration (if pending), download the stamped registration form, and ensure it reflects alongside the fee receipt—these dual documents are mandatory for examination-hall entry.
- Self-Verification: Cross-check portal status regularly; contact the Bursary Helpdesk or ICT Support for discrepancies.
Conclusion: A Collective Imperative for Academic Continuity and Institutional Sustainability
The reported 40% compliance rate—while commendable among those who have paid—serves as a sobering wake-up call for the remaining 60%. The university’s capacity to deliver credible, timely, and hitch-free examinations hinges on the collective fiscal responsibility of its student community. Non-payment is not merely a personal financial matter; it directly threatens the shared academic ecosystem that benefits every matriculated student.
Management therefore issues this final, unequivocal advisory: Immediate and full fee settlement is no longer optional—it is indispensable for academic survival and progression. Avoid the indignity, disappointment, and long-term setback of being turned back at the examination gate. Act decisively today—pay your fees, secure your eligibility, preserve your focus, and safeguard your future at this great institution. The entire university administration stands ready to assist compliant students; the onus now rests squarely with each individual to rise to the occasion.
For inquiries, contact the Bursary Unit, Students’ Affairs, or your Departmental Examination Officer without delay. Compliance ensures continuity—non-compliance invites exclusion. The choice is yours; the time is now.
