The Education Rights Campaign (ERC) has issued a strong condemnation of Professor Sa'adatu Hassan Liman, Vice-Chancellor of Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK), for refusing to reinstate suspended students despite an appeal from Governor Abdullahi Sule.

In a statement jointly signed by ERC's Deputy National Coordinator, Ogunjimi Isaac, and National Mobilisation Officer, Adaramoye Michael Lenin, the group described the Vice-Chancellor's actions as demonstrating "vicious tyranny and recklessness."

The controversy stems from events in August 2024, when several students, including Shekwogaza Godiya Sanda, Timothy Manasseh, and Asan Ukeyima, began organizing protests against a new university policy. The policy required students to pay N5,000 for each failed course under what the university termed a "third semester" scheme.

According to the ERC, before the planned protest could take place, the student organizers were arrested and detained by police, allegedly at the instruction of university authorities. On December 9, 2024, the university formally suspended the students for "incitement."

"The fact is that the planned protest never took place. So, the official basis for their suspension is flawed," the ERC stated, challenging the legitimacy of the university's disciplinary action.

Governor Sule reportedly intervened in the matter during Professor Liman's one-year anniversary celebration, with the appeal conveyed through his Personal Assistant on Social Media, Godwin Rimi. The governor urged the university administration to reconsider its decision regarding the suspended students.

However, the ERC claims that "despite this plea, Prof. Sa'adatu Hassan Liman has set all reasons aside and refused to reinstate these innocent students who have suffered physical and emotional torment."

The rights group also criticized the Vice-Chancellor's leadership style, stating: "This is a clear revelation of the atrocities of Sa'adatu Hassan Liman, the Vice-Chancellor who is misnamed as 'Sweet Mother of NSUK' but unleashes terrible policies on students."

Further allegations from the ERC include the cancellation of the last Students' Union election, which they claim has left the student body without formal representation to advocate for their interests.

The group has issued several demands, including the immediate and unconditional reinstatement of all suspended students and accountability for those responsible for the arrests and alleged mistreatment of the students.

While acknowledging Governor Sule's intervention, the ERC has called on him to take more decisive action to resolve the situation and protect students' rights at the institution.