Lagos varsity reinstates student union after nine-year suspension

THE University of Lagos has restored its student union government (SUG) nine years after it was suspended.

In April 2016, the university senate dissolved the SUG and placed its constitution on indefinite hold, saying the action followed protests and disturbances by students that disrupted academic activities and threatened stability on campus.

The decision drew criticism from student groups and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), which organised demonstrations against the rustication of some student leaders involved in protests over poor electricity and water supply on campus.

Student groups had accused the university authorities of stifling students’ voices and limiting their right to express grievances.

However, the management insisted that suspending the union was necessary to restore order and safeguard the continuity of academic activities.

But in a statement published on its website on Friday, the university said the SUG has now been restored with an election conducted as part of the transition process toward the full return of the union.

According to the statement, the exercise, held at the common room of Moremi Hall on the university campus, was organised by Johnson Agunsoye, the university’s director of student affairs, under the supervision of its dean.

The university said the officials were elected from among the current faculty presidents, in line with guidelines put in place to guide the transition toward restoring the union.

“At the end of the exercise, Bolaji Akinpelu of the Faculty of Arts emerged as the President with a total of nine votes while Daniel Solomon of the Faculty of Computing and Informatics was elected General Secretary with nine votes,” the statement said.

Commenting on the process, Agunsoye said the election was part of efforts to fulfil a pledge by Folasade Ogunsola, the vice-chancellor, to reinstate the student union.

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He said the move was intended to enhance student representation and promote leadership development within the institution.

“The restoration of the union is intended not only to provide a platform for the student population to express their views, but also to prepare students for leadership responsibilities and encourage them to become solution-driven leaders,” he said.