FUOYE: NANS cautions SSANU over plans to ‘disrupt’ academic activities

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Southwest Zone has cautioned the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) over its plan to disrupt academic and non-academic activities at the Federal University of Pye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Ekiti state.

The leadership of the union, Comrade Owolewa Taiwo, was quoted in a statement, saying that it would resist any attempt by SSANU to plunge the institution into crisis.

He stated the students body has resolved to do do everything within the ambit of law to protect the interest of the students of the institution.

The statement read in part, “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.

‘We are aware of the veiled threats by SSANU to mobilise its members across 26 universities in the western zone for an industrial action or protest in FUOYE.

“This is not a threat; this is a declaration of readiness to protect the academic future of Nigerian students.

“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!

“FUOYE or any of our institutions in Southwest is not a battleground for political vendettas or union showdowns. 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.

“We urge all stakeholders to intervene decisively to ensure that the peace and stability of FUOYE and other institutions are not compromised. We are committed to dialogue, justice, and equity, but we will not allow the future of Nigerian students to be jeopardized by anyone hiding under the guise of unionism.

“We also call on SSANU to pursue their grievances through the proper legal and administrative channels rather than resorting to disruptive actions that may lead to further crisis.”