The authorities of the University of Lagos, UNILAG, Akoka, have shut down activities at the institution’s main campus, Akoka due to a protest by students.
The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, and its Joint Campus Committee affiliate protested at the gate of the institution against the unjust rustication of some members of the students’ union.
The association described the action of the school’s management as “killing the future of the youths and repressing their right to express their grievances.”
The rusticated students are leaders of the students’ union body that were suspended due to a protest that held in April over poor electricity and water supply in the institution.
The Nation learnt that members of the suspended University of Lagos Students Union, ULSU, executive had earlier in the month protested against what they described as an “unjust rustication” of the union members.
NANS Lagos Joint Campus Committee, JCC, Chairman, Samson Adewale, who led members of the association from Adeyemi College of Education, Lagos State University, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology among others, said it was unfair for the management to punish those advocating improved welfarism on behalf of others.
Adewale said the protest was necessitated by the need to support their counterparts in the struggle against unjust victimisation.
He said: “The people that have deem it fit to fight for the right of others have been suspended. They are leaving the students with no option, with no voice and you can see it right now as we are here; hardly can you find any student of University of Lagos joining the protest because they are afraid. Once their voice is heard, they will be rusticated.
“Just like what happened to Mr Femi Adeyeye, who went on social media to address the issue. He was rusticated and the management said he violated the code of conduct of the institution. Does the code and conduct affect social norms? I want to say that conflict is inevitable. The fact that there is a conflict between the management and the students does not mean those involved should be killed or be stopped from having a future.
“They should give these people the opportunity to negotiate their procedures in solving the conflict. We are always going to be here since they have assumed their personal image is more than the image of an institution. If UNILAG management deem it fit that conflict is the best way to go and by coercing the students is the best way to have good authority, then we are saying this to them: come today come tomorrow, we are not leaving here until we receive a meaningful response from them,” he added.
The UNILAG main gate has been blocked by the protesters’ vehicle, and also locked by the campus security leading to the restriction of movement in or outside the campus.
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