Evolution and Development of Students'unionism In Nigeria
Posted: Thursday, October 16, 2008
by Rahaman Onike
Students' unionism refers to association of students in an Institution. It creates forum for effective interaction among students. It is the government of the students. Like any other government, it consists of the executive, the legislature and the judicial arms. Existence of students' union government enhances process of school administration and it usually facilitates effective communication between authorities and the students.Indeed,students' unionism provides opportunities for leadership training for the youths.
Historically, the evolution of students' unionism began in 1925 with the emergence of West African Students' Union (WASU) and it was pioneered by some Nigerian students schooling in London. The first president was a Nigerian, Ladipo Solanke. With the establishment of the University of Ibadan in 1948, there were efforts to perpetrate students' unionism .
To expand the cause of students' struggle in Nigeria, other Institutions followed suite. Efforts were made to form a common platform or umbrella body for the Nigerian Students, the idea was translated into action through the formation of the National Union of Nigerian Students (NUNS) in 1956, with late Ambassador Emmanuel Obe as its first National President.
Incontrovertibly, Students' unionism during this period was enriched and strengthened by robust debates, diplomatic maneuverings, total or passive resistance to oppressive tendencies of the college or University Authorities. Indeed, those that were in the vanguard of struggle then were highly articulate, intellectually inclined and very dogged in the field of struggle.
Even at the secondary school level, militancy is a common feature and phenomenon. It must be recalled also that students of kings college Lagos planned a violent demonstration in 1944 in response to the directive of the then British Government that the students should vacate their dormitories for the government to re-assign and reallocate the structures for the military formations and establishment. This is also a clear demonstration of Militancy by the students.
The second phase of the development of students militancy was post independence era starting from 1961 when the students protested against the decision of the Nigerian government to enter into Aglo-Nigeria defence pact with the British Government. The pact consisted several articles among which are:- that the government of Federation and the united kingdom each undertake to afford to the other such assistance as may be necessary for mutual defence and to consult together on the measures to be taken jointly or separately to ensure fullest co-operation between them for this purpose.
In another section, the pact states that the government of the federation and the united kingdom each undertake to accord to, military aircraft of and air craft under the control of the Armed forces of the other, unrestricted overflying and air staging facilities in the federation and in the united kingdom and dependent territories respectively etc.
The Nigerian students considered the pact as an attempt to mortgage the Sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. In essence, Colonialism wrecked a lot of havocs and hindered the growth of active unionism on Nigerian Campuses. Several students that involved in the struggle against Aglo-defence pact were victimized by the government. They remained undaunted due to their commitment and belief in the justification for the struggle.
The later events indicate that military rule played a major role in lowering the rate of militancy of most students' activists. Going through the memory lane, the police brutality of students that participated in the University of Ibadan riot of 1 st February 1971 in the course of which Kunle Adepoju was killed by the police using fire Arms showed the repressive attitude of the police and government to active students' unionism.
The use of Fire Arms by the police to quell students' demonstration is contributing to the dyeing culture of students' militancy. Following the death of Adepoju, Justice B.O. Kazeem Commission of Enquiry which was set up, found that it was the failure of police to heed the advice that the use of fire Arms is prohibited on Campus that led to the sudden death of the students' union leader.
In essence, deployment of police to the Campuses at slightest provocations by the students and the use of fire Arms are considered the major causes of dyeing culture of militancy among the students' union leaders.
The punishments meted unto the students that participated in operation Gowon must go of 1974, University of Benin demonstration of 1976 and Ali must go crisis of 17th April, 1978, etc were handiworks of the military junta. The consequence was the ban on students' union activities in various Campuses. Several activists were rusticated and expelled. At times, the alleged students' unionists were arrested and detained. This act of barbarism in some ways could discourage the spirit of militancy among the students' union leaders in Nigeria. This is equally a reminder of events leading to the ban of National union of Nigerian students (NUNS) and the formation of the Present National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) in Yaba College of Technology in 1983. The ban was however lifted by the regime President Sheu Shagari in the year 1980. NANS inherited the same idealism as in the case of NUNS. This student body propagated and spread the ideology of Marxism on the Nigerian campuses. In the course of struggle, the students' activists enjoyed the support of radical intellectuals in the labour movement and in the academia. The students' leaders of the period were idealists and fire brands. This history would be inclusive without acknowledging that it was after the ban on NUNS was lifted that the students restrategized and mobilized themselves the outcome was the decision to rename NUNS with the name NANS.
The strategies used by the previous administrations were to politicize the student movement, use blackmail, infiltrate the ranks and to cause division among students' leaders. Dangling of carrots before students' union leaders also destroys culture of students' militancy in students' unionism. The Nigerian judiciary has been living up to expectation in promoting the rule of law, equity and justice. as applicable to student movement. Evidence abounds that courts do entertain action instituted by the students. In the case of the expelled university of Benin students, courts were approached to enforced their rights in 1976. Eventually, the court ruled in their favour and they were reinstated. Of equal relevance was the protest organized by the students, on the 2 nd February, 1983 against Prof. Jubril Aminu, the then Vice Chancellor of the University of Maiduguri. Those that led the struggle were expelled consequent upon the recommendations of the panel set up to investigate the remote and immediate causes of the crisis. These students went to court too despite the victimizations. They pursued the case up to the supreme court. In a majority decision, the supreme court on Friday 14 th February, 1986 ruled in favour of the expelled students that they should be reinstated.
experience has equally shown that lack of understanding of our legal rights as students hinders spirits of militancy in the pursuance of the objectives of students' unionism on campus. Poor government attitude towards the implementation of white papers of Commission of Enquiries headed by Abisoye and Justice Mustapha Akanbi respectively, in my own opinion an obstacle to the growth of active unionism in Nigeria campuses. The panels were set up to investigate 1981 university of Ife Riot and 1986 Abu crisis. The remarkable thing is that these panels recognized youthful exuberance as factor aggravating crisis on Nigerian campuses. Nonetheless, they frowned at the use of fire Arms on Campuses and they advocated for reduced role and less involvement of Authorities in the activities of the students' union.
Again, invocation of obnoxious and draconian laws as applicable to power enjoyed by the Authorities in instilling discipline unto the students can result into low militancy on Nigerian campuses. This means that the headships of educational institutions are empowered by the military to rusticate or expel any erring students' union leaders without fair trial. Egunje or settlement syndrome is an instrument usually employed in order to silent those that are too militant among students' activists. Poor linguistic ability and communication skills of some of the students' union leaders contribute to low vibrancy and militancy of the students' union activists. The problem of communication is becoming a threat to active unionism in Nigerian campuses.
Poor enabling environment, lack of organization and mediocrity of the students' leaders make it difficult for them to meet up with the challenge of evolving a virile and dynamic students' unionism on Nigerian campuses.
Political intrigues and intricacies need to be properly understood, in the quest for free, independent unionism and for emancipation of students' unionism in Nigeria. Prevalence of secret cultism in reality constitutes a threat to active unionism on campus. Briefly, the effects of the dyeing culture of militancy are wide ranging. There can be no stability if the Authorities are intruding into the affairs of the students' union. In a broader perspective, students' interests are better secured when the activists embraced the spirit of militancy and active unionism. It is an undisputable fact that fear always captures the college or university authorities when the students' union leaders who are versatile, articulate and radical speak on any issue. Whereas an uncoordinated, weak and conservative students' leaders are likely to experience deprivation, victimization and oppression. Whatever your differences as student body you must remain united, strong, dynamic and highly focused to actualize your goals. Let me remind you of a common saying that unity is strength. That aptly means united we stand and divided we fall. Militancy is a strategy for effective students' union and It is the core approach to radical and ideological students' struggle.
BY;
ONIKE RAHAMANev
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Top-level comments on this article: (5 total)great work rahaman if our students movement will grow from the shakles of partisan political interference a lot more can be achieved. we the young students activists will have to learn from the old ones
very helpul very refeshing and informative.
nice one
great work!!!!!!!! but you are too concerned about militancy, question: what level of result has militancy produced over the years? i think we should think differently, restrategize, change our tools of communication to things like collective bargaining, dialogue, serious mental engagement and development of leaders.
A beautiful piece, i was personally inspired by it. I am grateful to u, for choosen a worrisome topic in such positive way. Remain Bless Rahaman.
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