The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Zone D on Wednesday sounded a warning to the institutions management undermining the student unionism in South West states of Nigeria.
The NANS frowned at lack of functional student unions in Osun State Polytechnic, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, and the University of Lagos (UNILAG), among others, threatening to short down the institutions that deprived students of having functional union.
Speaking at a press conference in Osogbo, Osun State, the coordinator, NANS, Southwest Zone D, Comrade Owolewa Sunday, issued a 14 -day ultimatum to UNILAG, OSPOLY and LAUTECH to reinstate its Students’ Union, describing the Student Union as a voices of the students.
According to Sunday, “We want to issue a strong warning to the management of institutions that are militating against our efforts via their oppressive and manipulative decisions of scrapping student union to desist from such.
“It has come to our attention that institutions such as Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, and notably the University of Lagos (UNILAG) still lack a functional Students’ Union.
“The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Zone D under my leadership believes that the absence of functional Students’ Unions is a glaring affront to the rights and aspirations of Nigerian students. We will not stand idle as students voices are silenced and their interests neglected in this institutions.
“Having exhausted the first two C’s of Aluta in advocating for the reinstatement of the Students’ Union at these campuses, we are left with the final C: Confrontation.
“Therefore, we hereby issue a 14 -day ultimatum to UNILAG, OSPOLY and LAUTECH to reinstate its Students’ Union. If this demand is not met, the association will mobilize a massive protest to disrupt academic activities and bring the issue to national attention. This absence undermines students’ rights and limits their ability to voice and safeguard their interests.
“Should this ultimatum pass without action, we are prepared to take decisive action to protect the rights of our Students in Zone D and we will not hesitate to use all available means, including mass protests to ensure that our demands are met, he added.
