By Ishola Afeez
The Education Rights
Campaign (ERC), University of Lagos (UNILAG) chapter, held a public symposium
on the 4th of November, 2014, at Faculty
of Arts of the university, with the theme “Proscription of independent student
unionism in UNILAG, So long, too long and the topic “Degeneration of students
movement in Nigeria and the implications and challenges to the Education
system”.
The symposium had in
attendance Dr Dele Ashiru, a lecturer and a former president, Student Union UNILAG,
Abiodun Aremu, Secretary Joint Action Front (JAF), H.T Soweto, the National
Coordinator of the Education Rights Campaign (ERC), Mr Siraj a member of the Students
Union Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) set up by the management, and some
other student activists. Close to 50 students were in attendance. For a campus
which had experienced little or no political activity since the ban of the Students
Union about 10 years ago, this is an inspiring turnout.
The symposium commenced
with the reawakening of students consciousness, with the chanting of solidarity
songs. Abiodun Aremu highlighted the
purpose of education in the society, and the urgent need for students to have
their union back so as to be able to ask questions, defend their rights and if
need be challenge authorities when these rights are infringed. Thereafter, he
pointed out that it is irresponsible of any university system to deny students
of unionism.
 |
| Abiodun Aremu, JAF Secretary |
Dr Dele Ashiru in his
own speech, outlined the necessary qualities a student union must possess to be
relevant in the society. He stated that students must be knowledge-driven and
engage in critical skepticism, i.e. doubt everything. He noted that
knowledge-driven activism produced the National Association of Nigerian
Students (NANS) Charter of Demands on education. According to him, opportunism
must be removed, stating that characters parading themselves as activists
meanwhile they are opportunists need to be removed from the system. Quest for
material benefits in the name of student activism or leadership must also be
eschewed. He recalled a situation where a representative of one of the halls at
a meeting asked about how much their sitting allowance would be.
He enjoined students to
all work assiduously to make sure that the union when it is restored is a well
equipped one. He pointed that the union should be free of tribal or religious
differences. He also made it clearly known that the Academic Staff Union of
Universities (ASUU) would stand with the students in ensuring that the Students
Union is brought back soonest.
 |
| Dr. Dele Ashiru, ASUU UNILAG |
HT Soweto also
spoke, imploring students to be determined at getting back the Student Union.
He however pointed out that students should not just want any union, but one
which is independent, mass-based and democratic. He pointed out that the rule
or idea inserted into the new union constitution disenfranchising thousands of
students from directly electing their representatives is more or less like
returning UNILAG to the period of military autocracy. He stated that the idea
of the Electoral College should not be a basis for election into union offices.
Only mass participatory election can ensure the union is one that is
accountable to students. He also explained that the higher institution is a
place where rudiments of leadership is instilled in students who are future
leaders so the illegitimate ban on the Students Union should be lifted soon and
students should be allow to run their affairs their own way.
He also enjoined
students to see themselves as capable of mobilizing to right these wrongs by
saying no to Electoral College and to ensure that this current transition is
fully achieved. In all, he pointed that students should make it a point of duty
to attend in their mass the constitutional review taking place on Friday November
7 so as to push their demands for the immediate setting up of an electoral
commission and release of election timetable.
 |
| HT Soweto, ERC National Coordinator |
The representative of
the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC), Mr Siraj, quickly explained to
students on how the CDC was composed, the activities they embarked on before
and during the constitution drafting and on the Electoral College, how it came
about, the composition and the idea behind it. He explained that though he
himself does not support it, nevertheless students should accept it for the
sake of ensuring the union is restored after which students can on their own
remove it from the constitution.
In conclusion, Dr Dele
Ashiru commended the ERC, UNILAG chapter, suggesting that more symposium of
this nature be organised so as to resuscitate students’ consciousness on campus
and to help in ensuring that students stand for what is right, and also speed up
the return of a student oriented, UNILAG Students Union (ULSU). At the end of
the inspiring discussion, about 21 students signed up to join the ERC.
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