SUG 2017 :Comr Isreal Ahamefula charges new Excos

AS ABSU INAUGURATES NEW SUG EXCOS TODAY,

Israel Ahamefula,A SENIOR ADVOCATE OF NIGERIAN STUDENTS' Writes on

The Expectations,Challenges and the Way Forward of STUDENTS’ UNIONISM.

Students Unionism serves as the voice of the students in all the tertiary intuitions. They demonstrate, promote and defend the welfare needs of students on campus.
The Students Union Government were established in various institutions of higher learning to promote unity, orderliness and smooth relationship between students, school authorities and the State or Federal Government.

It is unfortunate that most Students Union in Nigerian Universities do not know the key objectives for which they were established. This is why some student governments see the freedom they enjoy as an opportunity to cause mayhem and anarchy in their institutions. It is true that there are legitimate issues of poor service and maladministration for which students should feel genuinely aggrieved, but it has since been proven that violence is not a solution to any problem.
Violent protests in Nigerian higher institutions have always led to destruction of properties and disruption of academic studies. Most often, students themselves end up bearing the brunt of their actions as they are compelled to pay for property destroyed during such protests.

Institutions at times increase fees as a way of punishing students and recovering funds to repair damaged facilities.
Instead of violent protests, peaceful demonstration is definitely a more viable option in getting authorities to listen to students grievances and explore opportunities for dialogue. Most of the disagreements between students and authorities are usually caused by communication gaps. By tabling their grievances reasonably and respectfully, students might find that what they consider the weaknesses of their school authorities were caused by some forces outside their schools.
It is unfortunate that lives have been lost as a result of violent protests and this is a big blow to the families of victims.

Allowing a student that has little or no skill in governance to oversee the affairs of students can easily result in disorderliness and unorganized government which might result in the use of violence to achieve a goal that can easily be achieved through dialogue.

Furthermore, the various SUGs in our tertiary institutions should know that they were elected to serve students and represent their interest in order to promote discipline, orderliness and unity among students and their school authorities. SUG positions should not be seen as an avenue to amass wealth but as an opportunity to serve.

Also, the use of posters and sharing of gifts by contestants during Students Union Election campaigns should be prohibited. The avenue for campaigns should be public debates organised by school authorities. This will provide platforms for contestants to present their campaign promises to the electorate. This will go a long way in discouraging contestants from spending on campaigns and then seeing their elective positions as opportunities to amass wealth. That measure will also encourage indigent but talented students, who do not have the financial wherewithal to distribute gifts and posters, to contest.

Finally, the anti-corruption agencies and Other Related Offences Commission, should mandate the various Students Union Governments to periodically submit financial reports of their Unions for public information and probe, if necessary.
This is my Case!

Ahamefula Israel, a Senior of Nigerian Students' ,writes from Uturu. e-mail:anyameleisrael@gmail.com.