Students of the University of Lagos, UNILAG, Akoka, Yaba, have urged the authorities of the institution to re-instate the Students’ Union, suspend all requirements of oath taking and undertaking and indemnity as preconditions for their resumption scheduled for May 2, 2016.
They also want the
UNILAG to shift the dates of their examinations from May 9, 2016, in order to
give room for students to settle down and prepare for the said examinations.
It would be recalled
that the authorities of UNILAG announced a compulsory closure and forced all
students to vacate the campus and their halls of residence.
This followed the
peaceful assembly of the students, to draw the authorities’ attention to the
deplorable state of infrastructure and facilities in the university, leading to
permanent blackouts and lack of water supply.
UNILAG has now imposed
conditions upon the students, for their resumption, such as to subscribe to an
oath of non membership of secret cults, indemnity and undertaking by their
parents.
But the students,
through their lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, have in turn urged UNILAG, through a
letter dated April 27, 2016, to dispense with these conditions.
Adegboruwa in his
letter said: “First, the students were not rusticated or expelled to warrant
any oath for re-admission.
“Second, it is illegal
to ask innocent students and their parents to subscribe to an oath not to
commit a crime. Cultism is a serious crime in all statutes regulating crime and
criminality.
“Third, the students
have already paid for their accommodation in their various halls of residence
and they are thus entitled to the use and occupation of these halls for the
current academic session.
“They have also paid
for their examinations and they are entitled to partake in the said
examinations without any precondition.
“The students stated
that by virtue of section 40 of the 1999 Constitution and Article 10 of the
African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, they are entitled to freedom of
association, to elect their leaders and to maintain a union, without any
interference from the University.
“Furthermore, the students
maintain that they cannot be punished for the unilateral act of closure by the
university, over deteriorating conditions in their campuses, that are not
conducive for learning and intellectual exercise.
“These issues have not
been addressed by the university authorities, before announcing resumption and
the students fear that gathering over 27,000 students in a situation of total
darkness, absence of water, etc, may lead to the outbreak of some epidemic.”
Consequently, the
students have written letters to the Vice-Chancellor and the Governing Council
of the University, for the following demands:
“1. Suspension of ALL
conditions of OATH, INDEMNITY AND UNDERTAKINGS, by students and their parents;
“2. Lifting of the ban
or suspension placed upon the Students’ Union;
“3. Shifting of the
examination calendar by one month, to afford the students adequate time and
access to facilities and academic materials for preparation for the said
examinations. Most students were forced to leave the University campus under
conditions of extreme urgency, without any opportunity or access to their
academic materials and facilities, making it impossible for them to prepare for
the examinations.
“To insist on May 9,
2016, as date for the commencement of examinations, will only be a punitive
measure by the University authorities, now known to produce very brilliant
materials for the growth of Nigeria. Many of the students are traveling back
from their various locations across and outside Nigeria and would therefore
need sufficient time to settle down, for serious academic activities.
“4. Absorption of
students representatives into the Council, Senate and the Congregation of the
University, to afford them the opportunity of being part of the decision making
process, which may affect them, their parents, their future and their careers.
“5. Immediate dialogue
with the Students’ Union, for the purpose of addressing all pending issues
affecting the students and the entire university.”
The students have
given UNILAG management up till April 29, 2016, to address these demands or
face court action.
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