‘Restore UNILAG students’ union’
By Esther Taiwo
University of Lagos Mass Communication Alumni Association (UMCAA) has called on the visitation panel set up by the Federal Government to look into the recent crisis rocking the 58-year-old citadel of learning with a view to restoring student unionism on campus.
This was contained in a letter signed by the President of UMCAA, Prof Oluyinka Esan, which said the students of the University of Lagos should have platforms and structures including unionism in place, to enable them to liaise with the management, discuss their welfare, and be fully engaged as mature citizens in preparation for the onerous leadership tasks ahead of them, Daily Times gathered.
In one of the recommendations of the Association, student unionism should be viewed as part of wellrounded education, an incubator for responsible politicking, to enrich the democratic culture to which the university rightly aspires as evident in the recent crisis.
It also recommended that the unions in the University should be pragmatic and ensure that they do not put politics ahead of the welfare and image of the institution.
The Association which prides itself as gathering of the Great Communicators said it was greatly dismayed by the recent crisis.
“UMCAA finds it disheartening that the rancor that has been feeding the news was neither predicated on the welfare of students, nor has it been mindful to protect this premium brand – a Centre of Excellence and the University of First Choice.
We are relieved that the Visitor has intervened to halt the protracted events.”
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The Association commended the intervention of the Federal Government in suspending the principal actors to give room for peace as well as the university’s investment in an online learning programme, which should facilitate immediate commencement of online learning as progressive institutions have been doing since the coronavirus pandemic.
It however noted that the facility is not in use by staff and students, and its existence is not widely known within the community.
