The student unionism we have today in tertiary institutions can be traced back to the days of struggle for national independence. Students Union Government, SUG, as it is popularly called, which started as a pressure group back then was pioneered by the likes of Solanke, Awolowo, Nkrumah, Azikiwe and others in London in the year 1925.
In those days, the student union had the support of many people because of its noble intentions and willingness to help the poor.
But just as everything is in shambles at the state level (of politics), so also is the case in our tertiary institutions, or even worse.
Let me tell you how student unionism is a direct imaging of what we have at the state level:
Tax; every citizen of a state is expected to pay tax for smooth running of state affairs, likewise, every student is expected to pay the student union due (be it at the departmental level or the general SUG level), for smooth running of the union’s affairs.
Rule of law/ Constitution; this is the framed guide that gives directions of operations for the affair of the state and the same goes for student unionism. This constitution is expected to be opened to all students to access, so they can understand how the affair of the union is being run.
Representation/ Democracy/ Voice of the masses; just as at the state level, these student union executives or representatives, represent us, and we put them there to represent our interests. They came to us and promised us lots of goodies if we put them there and they also came with written manifestoes (their plan for the office).
It is worth noting that corruption, godfatherism, cabals, election rigging, lies, propaganda, just as we have them at the state level of politics, are also ingrained deeply in student unionism, and this only predicts greater doom for the country as a whole.
Permit me to say that things would not have been like this in student unionism if students could actually hold these so called student-politicians responsible to the promises they made during their campaign and to the constitution of the Union.
Rather than just come to school, pay school fees and all dues (taxes) of the unions (which some do pay through tears and sweat), students should also start to participate in unionism and begin to hold representatives responsible.
By so doing, the student union representatives would be forced to be on their toes to work and speak for the interest of the students and even the school management will be forced to tread carefully any time they want to take decisions that would not favour the students.
It is therefore imperative for students of MAPOLY, to begin to ask, "why is the SUG constitution not made available for all students to see?" (even Nigeria’s constitution is on the internet for all citizens to see. Some schools like UI has their SUG constitution on the internet too.) "What was the last SUG due we paid used for?" "when is the next SUG election coming up?"
While students of my constituency, Mass Communication Department should also ask their representatives as well, "why is AMACOS constitution a secret affair?" "How are our representatives delivering on the manifestoes they presented to us during their campaign?".
These and more are what we supposed to ask. We should start by cleaning the platform in which our voices should be heard and make it sharp in order to pierce through and be heard.
State politics will continue the way it is, a politics where the law only works in favour of those in power, a political terrain where a large percentage of voters are illiterates and poor people who are easily bought with kulikuli and garri and some are lucky to get bags of rice, by the rich and powerful, unless those of us who are learned stand up now and stand to hold them accountable for their actions and inactions . We should begin now to ask these student-politicians to work according to the constitution, which should be opened to all to see.
By the time we are through with school, we would have become better in making those at the state level responsible to their roles. And our fellow students, would have learnt what it means to be responsible in public offices.
Sadiq Adeniran is an HND2 student of Mass Communication.
