Authorities of the University of Lagos have dissolved the students’ union of the institution preparatory to the resumption of full academic activities on May 2.
The decision to dissolve the union was reached at an emergency meeting of the university senate on Friday.
“The University of Lagos Student Union (ULSU) Constitution should be suspended until further notice. The ULSU Executive and the Student Legislative Council should be dissolved forthwith,” a circular released on Saturday stated.
“Faculty and Departmental Associations should work with the University Management through the Students’ Affairs Division in the interim.
“ULSU Constitution should be reviewed to include conflict resolution mechanisms such as establishment of Judicial Arm and Financial Guidelines, which shall be the prelude to subsequent elections into ULSU offices.”
The circular, signed by Taiwo Ipaye, the university’s registrar and secretary of senate, also required every student of the university to sign undertakings, and parents’ indemnity forms, before they will be allowed to return to their halls of residence.
The university suspended all academic activities and immediate closure of the university on April 8 after students protested lack of basic amenities such as water and electricity in their halls of residence.
The protesting students blocked major roads leading into the university, including access to the school’s Senate building and the Assembly Hall where Vice Chancellor Rahman Bello was attending an event.
Armed police officers were later brought in to disperse the angry students.
In a circular released after the protest, the school blamed the lingering fuel crisis for its failure to provide water and other amenities in the students’ halls of residence.
“Senate noted that the problem of poor municipal service is a national issue that the governments at both state and federal level are addressing,” the circular stated.
A statement released on Saturday directed the students to download the undertaking forms from the university’s website at www.unilag.edu.ng, complete and notarise them, and submit alongside the indemnity forms from their parents at their departments in order to obtain a clearance that will grant them entry into examination halls and halls of residence.
“Examinations will commence from Monday, May 9, 2016. Consequently, students are expected to generate their examination dockets and ensure it is duly endorsed by their Course Advisers between Monday, April 25 and Monday, May 2, 2016,” the statement read.
“The University will endeavour to provide electricity in the various halls of residence between the hours of 7.00 pm and 7.00 am daily. The boreholes in the hostels will continue to provide water supply to the hostels until normal supply from the Lagos State Water Corporation resumes.”
