JOINT STATEMENT OF OAU ACTIVISTS ON THE PROTEST BY ANGOLA HALL RESIDENTS AND THE DEPLORABLE STATE OF WELFARE
‘’WHEN INJUSTICE BECOMES A LAW, RESISTANCE BECOMES A DUTY’’
In light of the recent protest at Angola Hall of Residence, where students voiced their dissatisfaction over the erratic supply of water, it is very clear that the basic necessities of the campus are being systematically and intentionally undermined by the current University administrators. The demonstration by the students, which was met with the presence of the school security personnel, Vice-Dean, Students Affairs, and all other officials of the University system, shows that our voice, if united, can successfully resist any anti-student policies on OAU campus. Therefore, we wish to commend the students resident in Angola hall for their resoluteness in rejecting the persistent poor water supply and the horrible welfare conditions thy have been subjected to. It is their resoluteness that made the University management jittery and begin to provide a solution to a problem they never intended to solve. Left to the Vice-Chancellor and his cohort, students can begin to live in hostels like refugee camps, so far they pay the outrageous hostel fees.
It is important to state that the terrible water supply on OAU campus is peculiar to the Angola Hall of Residence, all the Halls of residence on this campus are experiencing such a problem. This, however, is coupled with irregular electricity supply to the University. For us, this means that the protest by Angola students should be an example for all students. Students must begin to engage the school authorities on important issues of their welfare. We also stress the need for a united struggle of all students to challenge the deplorable state of the hostels and the welfare condition. The example of the protest by Angola students has shown that it is possible to challenge the authorities and achieve victories.
Recall that a similar protest was done last year by residents of Awo Hall, which drew the attention of even the Dean of Student Affairs. This emphasizes the inadequacies of a system that has repeatedly disappointed its primary stakeholders – the students. The persistent water crisis in OAU Halls of Residence is not merely an isolated incident but a serious symptom of administrative failures of the top officials of the University system that continue to affect the everyday lives of students. However, ever since the protest that occurred in Awo Hall last year and the one that just occurred on Monday, one thing has been made loud and clear: there is injustice in the aspect of welfarism on campus!
A significant area of concern is unjustifiable increase in hostel fees. The steep rise from #3090 to #25000, and now to #50000, reflects a management strategy that prioritizes revenue over the welfare of the student community. This financial burden, imposed without corresponding improvements in basic facilities, speaks to a broader neglect of the interests of those who are logically the main stakeholders of the University system. We call on students to reject the regime of exploitative fees; the outrageous increments in hostel fees have not been justified by any commensurate improvement in students’ welfare.
We condemn the silence of the leadership of the Students’ Union on these important issues that affect the lives of students. It is this silence that has emboldened the University management to neglect its responsibility. For instance, the issue of student identity cards has become a glaring symbol of the administration’s disregard for student rights. Despite having paid for these essential documents over several academic sessions, many students have yet to receive them, this is a daylight robbery of students! This pattern of neglect extends to other critical aspects of campus life. The chronic shortage of cash in ATMs on campus creates everyday inconveniences, rendering financial transactions unnecessarily difficult.
Additionally, the deplorable state of the halls of residence is a matter of grave concern. The dilapidated infrastructure not only compromises the physical well-being of the students but also reflects an overall indifference to the environment in which they live and study. Such conditions are unacceptable for those who invest their time, money, and energy into their education. Academic life, too, has suffered under the weight of administrative mismanagement. Overcrowded classrooms undermine the quality of education by limiting meaningful engagement between students and educators. This congestion not only hampers effective teaching but also the overall intellectual development of the student body. The Students’ Union leadership must be responsive and responsible to students. As a first step, we call for a well-mobilized congress of students, for students to take decisions on important issues which affect their lives.
It is essential to recognize that these policy failures are not random or coincidental; they are the result of a deeply entrenched neoliberal approach that prioritizes profit over the fundamental needs of students. The current management’s policies have transformed essential academic and living spaces into environments where financial gain takes precedence over educational excellence and human dignity.
For students, the time to act is now. The persistent neglect and exploitation on campus call for a united and vigorous response. The collective power of an organized student body is the most effective weapon against a system that has repeatedly failed to uphold the rights and welfare of those it is meant to serve.
If we fight, we may win; If we don’t we have lost already!
Izwe lethu!!!
SIGNED;
1) Comrade Emmypedia – EDUCATION RIGHTS CAMPAIGN, OAU (08059399178)
2) Comrade Gift – SOCIALIST WORKERS AND YOUTHS LEAGUE (08180541310)
3) Comrade Oladepo- ALLIANCE OF NIGERIAN STUDENTS AGAINST NEO-LIBERAL ATTACKS, ANSA (08104949191)
4) Comrade Owoh – FIGURE WORKSPACE AND BOOKSPACE (09033420679)
5)Comrade Kelechi — 07046752200
