- By: The Ray
Students’ unionism has been the typical example of an oxymoron reason, being that studentship in recent times has disassociated itself from the essence of unionism. It is quite lamentable and laughable that problems on campus brew when the population of students has increased in tens over the years. The offices of Students’ Union officials have become too juicy leaving Nigerian students in the hands of leaders who are worse than the occupants of the red and green chambers.
Leadership ought to be purpose driven and not that which is backed by financial appetite. But today, Students Unionism on campus has been laid to rest. Fear, Greed and act of embezzlement have become a character trait most Students’ Leaders possess and this does not just affect the institution but the nation at large.
Sequel to my admission into The Polytechnic, Ibadan, I am of the idea that the Students’ Union Government is a union which comprises of a group of students with similar goals and objectives speaking in one voice.
Surprisingly, my description of Students’ unionism has long been reviewed by the Students’ “unionists” as a body comprising students who delve mistakenly into school politics to amass wealth for themselves, drive around our campus in vans, live in furnished rooms despite the lamentable state of our hostels and wear starched clothes.
These Tom, Dick and Harry students’ leaders emerge victorious and alas, their purpose after emerging is to protrude their pockets with loads of cash and sometimes, they even pretend to be innocent and concerned about students’ welfare.
Incredibly, it has been observed over time that the interference of school authorities in students’ politics is a plague to students’ activism. The level of tribalism that plays on campus is colossal where certain positions are reserved for students of host communities. Often times on campuses, there are clashes between regions where there is sectoral discrimination.
Undoubtedly, the deplorable state of our hostels and hike fees we pay on campus today is not due to the bad government we have in Nigeria, but as a result of the indifferent leaders we have on campus. In recent times, they have refused to speak for the students who have no choice but to find comfort-ability in bedbug-ravaged mattresses, bushy environment, overcrowded rooms, bad toilets as well as inconducive classrooms, amongst others.
On the 2nd July 2019, Press council reported a news as regards the impeachment of two Students’ Union Government executives who are the Welfare Director 1, Adedoyin Adediran and Vice President 1, Oluwatosin Ekanola by the senate on the account of misconduct, misappropriation, as well as diversion and embezzlement of the Union’s funds.
In the same vein on the 5th August, 2019, the Faculty of Engineering Press reported the news of the suspended NAPES President, Adeleke Akorede and his Treasurer, Bolaji Afeez over mismanagement of the association’s funds.
he question begging for answer in the minds of Students is, “are these set of people our leaders, fighting for students’ rights or their personal pockets?”
It is perceived that Students’ activism is a mirage or maybe it died with Abacha. Students’ associations in the departmental and faculty levels are the most handicapped on our campuses, their objectives are simple. They include; host faculty and departmental football matches, production of Tshirts and collection of dues of which a good proportion of the dues collected leave students’ coffers to faculty deans and HODs.
As expected, Faculty leaders ought to channel the grievances of their students to the SUG when they are overwhelmed with pressures. Contrary to the objective of a sane students’ union, leaders protect their GPs to the detriment of students’ grievances.
Arise! Students must not be dumb or feign ignorance of this plague, thousands of students united cannot be defeated by a few administrators. The school is a micro reflection of the larger society, and if we fail as intellectuals the society will die.
Let the unschooled man not say “thank God I didn’t go to school. We must talk!
