NANS cautions.....

NANS cautions UNILAG against banning student unionism, decries oath taking

Words of admonition have greeted the decision of authorities of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) to administer a re-absorption oath on students of the institution before they are allowed to resume academic activities, as well as banning of student unionism.

Apart from the administration of the re-absorption oath, parents of students are also mandated to endorse an indemnity form in which they are to attest that their children and wards would be of good behaviour and conduct throughout their stay in the university.

They are also to pledge to indemnify the university of any liability in the event of their child/wards violating the re-absorption oath.

Additionally, the parents are also to pledge that they would always visit the institution’s website to obtain current information about the university and their wards in an indemnity form that has to be countersigned by at least a Level 12 officer in the public service.

President of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Tijani Usman Shehu, told The Guardian yesterday that it was very important for authorities of the institution to refrain from any action that would give it out as a repressive administration.

“We at NANS are following everything that is happening at the University of Lagos, and we would like to advise the Rahmon Bello-led administration not to take steps that are seen as repressive. What they are trying to do is very wrong,” Shehu stressed.

He further maintained that if the school authorities go ahead with their plans, “Nigerian students would resist it vehemently and would definitely visit the school with its wrath.”

The president said that he has mandated his south-west zonal coordinator to step into the matter and brief him appropriately to enable the association plan its next line of action.

The Senate of the institution at its recent emergency meeting directed that academic activities should resume on Monday, May 2, 2016. In preparation for the resumption, students are expected to download an undertaking and indemnity forms for themselves and their parents.

After filing the undertaking forms and getting them notarised, parents and guardians are also to complete the parents indemnity forms, both are to be submitted at the various departments and a clearance obtained. The clearance would be required to gain access into examination halls.

The school’s Senate also noted that students accommodated in halls of residence are to obtain a clearance from the departmental officer, which must be presented at the halls of residence to gain access into their rooms from Monday, May 2, 2016.