Courage and
Determination must now be matched with a clear plan to take the Struggle
Forward
YNA
(Omomeewa) – Coordinater, ERC Lagos State Chapter
The
Education Rights Campaign (ERC) Lagos State Chapter joined a protest march on
Monday 6 March 2017 organized by the #SaveUNILAG Coalition to demand the
unconditional reinstatement of the 11 rusticated students of the University of
Lagos (UNILAG) and the restoration of independent students union among other
demands.
They were
rusticated for their participation in a students’ protest in April last year
over poor welfare, epileptic power and water supply, conditions, high cost of
food and other basic needs on campus etc.
Other
demands of the March 6 protest are immediate halt to all victimization
especially the 40 PhD students invited to a panel for questioning recent hike
in their accommodation fees, improved students welfare, reversal of hike in
Post Graduate accommodation fees, proper funding of education and
democratization of decision making organs in academic institutions to involve
elected representatives of students and staff.
About
30 members and allies of the ERC joined the protest. The protest, about a
hundred strong, was organized by the Save UNILAG coalition which compromises
the Education Rights Campaign (ERC), SAYASI, ANSA, NANS JCC Lagos and other
groups. Many activists joined the protest in solidarity from schools within
Lagos and surrounding states like Osun, Ogun and Edo States. The protest march
kicked off from the Labour house Yaba.
Unfortunately
because of the climate of fear on the campus as a result of the vicious clampdown
on democratic rights by the school authority, UNILAG students are afraid to
express their minds and therefore could not join the protest. In the aftermath
of the protest last April, students were forced to sign indemnity forms with
the veiled threat that this could be used against them in the event they are
found involved in any activity considered by the University management as
against its interests.
From
labour house protesters marched down to Unilag gate with solidarity songs.
Prior getting to Unilag several contingents of armed police had barricaded the
road leading to University at about 60 meters distance before the gate. Two
police vans were stationed to cut off the road while the armed police stayed
behind the vehicles prepared to prevent the protesters from getting any
further. Instead of turning back, protesters set up a human barricade in front
of the police vehicles and engaged the police in agitations. Just at that
point, a heavy rain started and lasted for about four hours. Yet the
protesters, drenched in the heavy rain, did not budge from the barricade.
This
courage and determination demonstrated by the protesters eventually forced the
police to begin to look for a way out to ease the standoff. Eventually, the
Area Commander of the police had to come down to address the leaders of the
protest. He agreed to our demand which was to make a principal officer of the
University to come out to listen to the demands of the protesters. The Dean of
Students Affairs (DSA) of the University came down to listen to the demands.
The
Secretary of the Coalition, Sanyaolu Juwon and the NANS JCC Lagos chairman
Samson Moses presented protesters’ demands to the hearing of the DSA. In his
reaction, the DSA noted that our demands were taken and we should be rest assured
that he would deliver the message appropriately to the right quarters. In
rounding up the presentation, ERC National Coordinator H.T Soweto emphasized to
the DSA that this would not be the end of the protest and that more actions
would be taken in the coming weeks unless and until the University meets the
demands of the protesters.
Various
Broadcasting media stations were there to cover the protests. Notable ones are SilverBird
Television, Galaxy TV, TVC, Core TV, Punch newspaper, Sahara Reporters etc.
After this
protest, there is an urgent need for a meeting of the coalition to review the
strength and weaknesses of the action with a view to mapping out activities to
build the campaign further.
