The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Southwest Zone, has issued a strong warning to the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) over a possible plan to disrupt academic and non-academic activities at the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Ekiti State.
Led by Comrade Owolewa Taiwo, the student body made it clear that it would resist any action capable of plunging the university into crisis. NANS emphasized its commitment to defending the academic interests of FUOYE’s over 50,000 students.
In a statement released by the association, the group said:
“As the authentic and legitimate voice of Nigerian students across the Southwest, we state without ambiguity that we will not fold our arms and watch any individual or group—whether union or non-union—plunge our institution into chaos or truncate the academic calendar that affects the future of over 50,000 students at FUOYE.”
The student leaders said they are aware of SSANU’s threats to mobilize members from 26 universities in the Western Zone for an industrial action or protest at FUOYE, adding that such actions would not be tolerated.
“This is not a threat; this is a declaration of readiness to protect the academic future of Nigerian students,” the statement continued.
They recalled a previous incident during a SSANU protest where a student reportedly lost their life due to the closure of the university health center.
“We remind SSANU that the last time they embarked on a disruptive protest and shut down operations on FUOYE campus, we suffered a painful and irreparable loss—a promising student died due to lack of access to emergency medical care after the University Health Centre was shut down by their action.
We say never again.”
The students urged SSANU to seek proper legal and administrative channels for airing their grievances instead of causing more disruption.
“FUOYE or any of our institutions in the Southwest is not a battleground for political vendettas or union showdowns,” the statement added. “Any attempt to use our campus to settle scores or create chaos will be met with legal, peaceful but unshakable resistance from the student body.”
They called on stakeholders to step in and ensure peace is maintained in FUOYE and across other institutions.
“We are committed to dialogue, justice and equity, but we will not allow the future of Nigerian students to be jeopardised by anyone hiding under the guise of unionism.”
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