The Proliferation of private universities in the country started with the Igbinedion University Okada, Edo, and has brought about some unusual development into our educational sector as found in the government-owned universities also, most especially as it relates to unionism and activism.

Unionism in Nigerian universities started with the National Union of Nigerian Students led by late Segun Okeowo, which metamorphosed into National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS). These associations were further domesticated in every tertiary institution as a means of breeding future leaders among the students through departmental associations, faculty associations and the student union.

However, there came a growing disdain for student activism and unionism in Nigerian universities beginning from the year 1999 which was also replicated in Private Universities as a majority of schools made it a responsibility to clampdown on student unions and their officers. These have resulted in the expulsion of many with numerous examples around us.

The story of Debo Adedayo also known as Mr Macaroni, a “graduate” of Redeemer’s University Ede and, former President of Redeemer’s University Students Association that was expelled from the university few days to his convocation is the latest of such clampdown.

His expulsion was contained in a letter sent to him by the university on October 12, 2017, and reads, “it has been established through the findings of the students’ investigation and disciplinary committee that you recently posted certain messages on some social media platforms which are offensive and portrayed the Redeemer’s University and some of the officials in bad light.”

The University said it took the decision to expel Adedayo for not portraying the school in a good light. The act is punishable by expulsion going by the principles guiding students.

A further check to this unfortunate incident shows Adedayo truly made a post on Facebook while reminiscing about his meeting with former OAU Vice-Chancellor, Professor Wande Abimbola, an experience he claimed was a sharp contrast to what he experienced under some unnamed VC and Dean of Student Affairs.

In the said post, he refrained from mentioning any character as a result, for Redeemer’s university to claim the post was about them is questionable.

Also, it was revealed that after he was summoned on August 30, 2017, by the university management, he denied ever referring to them in the post and went on Facebook to issue a disclaimer with an apology that the post wasn’t meant for his Alma matter and he subsequently deleted the post. Without further recourse to another summoning, he was expelled on October 12, 2017, after the university already sent him his final result of CGPA 4.38 and, disallowed him from attending the convocation.

The experience of Adedayo sounds similar to that of Femi Adeyeye, who was expelled for criticising the University of Lagos Senate in an article. In the past one year, more than 60 comrades have been suspended and expelled from universities for their activism.

The University of Lagos student union has been scrapped several times due to the inability of the university management to withstand criticisms from the union, some students of the university that protested against water scarcity and expulsion of a blind student early this year were arrested and sent to Kirikiri prison but were later released after intervention by Civil Society Organisations.

These growing clampdown on student union officers and activists in Nigerian Universities is a replica of dictatorial acts of military leadership that should be shunned. Its more saddening that majority of these Vice Chancellors were once student union members in their undergraduate days.

Why can’t they tolerate unionism in their universities?

Editor