ERC OAU CONDEMNS THE ERRATIC WATER SUPPLY IN THE UNIVERSITY
ANGOLA HALL STUDENTS’ PROTEST SHOWS WE CAN ONLY WIN VICTORY IF WE STRUGGLE
THE STUDENTS’ UNION MUST WAKE UP TO ITS RESPONSIBILITY AND STAND FOR THE INTEREST OF STUDENTS
The Education Rights Campaign (ERC), OAU Branch, strongly commends students resident in Angola Hall for their protest against the erratic supply of water. The protest, which was staged on Monday April 7 against the poor supply of water, forced the Dean of students’ affairs and other officials of the school to intervene in a bid to pacify the angry students. Yet, students resolutely resisted the deceitful tactics of the school and continued their agitation. The school initially made a provision of a water tank, which was rightly rejected by students as it would not be enough or solve the crisis. In the end, the school had to procure a new pumping machine; something the school had earlier refused to do. This is commendable as it shows that when we fight, victory is possible.
Students must not relent; we must ensure the crisis of poor water supply is permanently solved in Angola Hall and other halls of residence. This is why we believe that the protest by residents of Angola Hall is a step in the right direction for all students who are also victims of the harsh welfare conditions on campus, especially the poor supply of water.
We consider the anger of students justified. Despite an outrageous increase in hostel fees, which now means that students pay over N50,000 for a bed space, there has been no corresponding improvement in their welfare conditions. In fact, the school authorities have left students to their fate. Many now have to rely on dirty water from streams in the bushes to bathe and do other necessary things. Aside from the immediate danger students can be exposed to in these bushes, many have become victims of different skin diseases and infections as a result of the unsafe, dirty water they use as an alternative.
We in the Education Rights Campaign (ERC), OAU Branch, strongly urge students, irrespective of their halls of residence, to be united to fight against the erratic supply of water, other poor welfare conditions and all anti-student policies of the Bamire-led Administration.
We maintain that, despite the chronic underfunding of public tertiary education by the federal government, there is enough resources to provide potable drinking water to all students across the campus. This is because the university management spends more resources on less important things like overhead cost of principal officers.
We also urge the leadership of the Students’ Union not to fold their arms while students suffer in terrible welfare conditions. The primary responsibility of the Students’ Union is to fight against attacks on the living and learning conditions of students. Therefore, leaders of the union must be at the forefront of ensuring that students are not exposed to disastrous conditions. For us, the present welfare situation on campus demands that a congress of students be summoned to take a position on ways of fighting back.
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