3Major Reasons Why SUG and NANS are No Longer Active

Unlike before when government and School management hears “STUDENTS UNION” fear always grip them and they always succumb to pressure but now the name student’s union (SUG), NANS and NAPS no longer carry much integrity like it was maybe due to politics or other unforeseen reasons Who knows? 

When you mention SUG, NANS or NAPS to management ear, they no longer feel threatened again, Instead  it is the students union that feel threatened. Most of the students always blame SUG having forgotten that the executives are also students like them, SUG serve as the bridge between the students and the school management but gone are those days when SUG serve as bridge now they are just like errand boys for the school management. 

The Major reasons why students union are no longer active are;

1. FEAR

No Student leader wants to sacrifice his or her certificate for the sake of others.  One SUG executive years back once told me “9ja I’m afraid” well I understand that it is not easy to be a comrade and I still remember vividly what he faced that year because it was God that saved him from the school management threats just because he voiced out for the students. I also came across the story of a polytechnic DSA telling SUG president that if he doesn’t cooperate, he (SU president) might pay back with his result.

Years back an SUG was labeled a cultist for voicing out for the students  uptil now the school doesn’t have an active SUG to fight for the students because “Everybody is Afraid.” Most SUG now only rely on NAPS and NANS to solve issues maybe because the executives (NAPS and NANS) are outsiders.

Tho sometimes NANS and NAPS intervention has been helpful but not in most cases because almost all the student’s association in Nigeria has been politicized as Government no longer respect them because half of the exco are loyal to those in power making it difficult to voice out While few who may want to speak up might be bribed or silenced. The students Union are capable but there is no freedom and due to these reasons, most of them are afraid thus making the SUG a toothless bulldog.

2. BRIBE

Sometimes the school management do bribe SUG and other student association body not to fight against their decision. This Happen often and often but as we all know, there is no press freedom nor freedom of speech in Nigeria to expose them and when you voice out or speak the truth you become their Strong enemy. So, who will fight against school fee increment, ASUP Strike and ASUU Strike? Nobody!! most of these union are just useless like the government are. I’ve been to Polytechnic in the southeast, west and south and even northern part, some of these schools go as far as charging #10,000 for late registration without protest or confrontation from the student leaders. The worst part is that “Textbook and handouts” are compulsory meanwhile those who are supposed to speak had taken bribe Besides who no like money?

3. IMPOSITION

Another reason why student’s union are now useless is that the school management sometimes impose candidate on the students. There are some schools that doesn’t conduct SUG election but preferred “Caretaker” or “Appointment” they will only select those whom they know that they can fully control Which is against the students will. Moreso, some of the so-called student leaders are only after money and women At least I have come across about three (3) SUG president who were suspended for corruption and abuse of office.  Only few Among the student’s union executives and other external students’ association are ready to take Responsibility.

What is the Solution?

For now, I don’t think there is possible solution because the solution that mostly works is “CONFRONTATION” but when students hear “Protest” What comes to their mind is violence, a case study of plateau state polytechnic, Nasarawa polytechnic and Adamawa polytechnic 2021 protest which resulted to damage of school Properties and at the end the student’s union would be the one to bear the consequences and management decision at the end would prevail.

I think if we really do want  our SUG to be active like it was in those days, we need to  vote in capable candidates with vision  putting money aside and also to come together as one and  charge the executives to be fearless and  at the same time encourage them to shun corruption But is this even possible?  Yes it possible only if we can let our “No” be “No”  only if we can speak in one voice to say #EnoughisEnough