The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has condemned the management of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, over the suspension of a number of students following alleged unrest on campus. The student union has accused the university of resorting to harsh punitive measures instead of addressing the root causes of the crisis.
NANS Southwest (Zone D) Coordinator Owolewa Taiwo, who spoke during a press briefing, said the union has exhausted the first two “C’s” of Aluta — consultation and confrontation — in its attempts to resolve the dispute with the university. He therefore announced that NANS is now moving to the final “C”: Confrontation, as it prepares to escalate the issue.
The association has unveiled a plan to hold a protest on Monday, which will disrupt academic activities at LAUTECH until the suspensions are reviewed. The demonstration is expected to target the university’s administrative offices and key campus locations, with students and union members rallying against what they describe as collective punishment of innocent students.
NANS also drew attention to the broader context of student unrest at tertiary institutions in the Southwest, where the disbandment of Students Union Governments (SUGs) has been linked to rising tensions and diminished platforms for peaceful dialogue. The union earlier threatened mass protests across the region if SUGs were not reinstated within 14 days at institutions including LAUTECH, UNILAG and Federal Polytechnic Ede.
This latest crisis is not the first time NANS has clashed with LAUTECH management. The student union has previously protested the university’s “No Fees, No Exam” policy, which barred students who could not pay tuition from sitting for examinations. That policy was defended by the university as a response to billions of naira in unpaid tuition fees, but NANS insisted it penalized genuine students for the actions of a few.
LAUTECH has also faced fresh student anger over the death of a student who was crushed by a bus at the Iseyin campus, an incident that triggered protests, the burning of the vehicle, and a two-week suspension of activities at the campus. The university closed the campus to allow tempers to cool and reinforce security measures.
Ahead of the Monday protest, NANS has urged the media, civil society groups and other student unions to support its campaign and to pressure the university management to reverse the suspensions. The union warned that continued use of punitive measures without dialogue could lead to further disruptions and long-term damage to the institution’s academic calendar.
Be the first to leave a comment