INTRODUCTION
It is said, ‘if nothing is done about
anything, things will remain the way they are”. It is with great enthusiasm and
unbridled sobriety that I decided to write on this issue affecting the Student
Union Government (SUG) of Federal Polytechnic Offa.
Student Union Leadership is formed to
promote and defend the welfare needs of student’s community in every Tertiary Institution.
Union leaders engage Government through dialogue on certain policies and the
authorities of institutions to provide certain minimum service that will
promote a sustained environment for academic interaction. This includes
teaching, learning, social and research activities.
Student leaders who are supposed to
be the Joshuas of today are already in the same track with our leaders. Our
student union leaders have cultivated the idea of accumulating much
wealth to own fat account after their tenure in office.
Student Union Government (SUG) serves
as the voice of the students in all Tertiary Institution in Nigeria.
The Authorities through the Students
Union Government is able to instill discipline and know the feelings and
request of the students
RESPONSIBILITY OF AN IDEA STUDENTS’ UNION LEADERSHIP
The activities of student Unions
include amongst the followings
1.
Student
Welfare: This involves monitoring prices of goods in the campus, improving
public transportation around the school, raising scholarship funds by seeking
assistance, improving services in sick bays and clinics, expressing solidarity
in support of union member during incidences such as death.
2.
Represent
the interest of all its members at all level; be accountable to its members.
3.
Anticipate
and respond to students’ needs and demands to ensure continuous improvements.
4.
Infrastructure
Development: Embark on building of students’ cafeterias, viewing centers to
watch matches, listen to news, union secretariat, Students Park and gardens,
information centers etc.
5.
Social
Activities: Enrich social life on campus by organizing parties, excursions, fun
trips to beaches, zoos and museums, selling discounted tickets to concerts,
shows plays and cultural events and rag days.
6.
Sport
Development: Organize competitions in sports across faculties/schools,
departments, programmes to engage students and discover talents to form school
teams.
7.
Para-Military Training: Student Unions should encourage
enrolment into para-military outfits for physical fitness training and for
provision of security especially during election and events. Example is MAN O’
WAR. Anti – cultism enforcement.
8.
Community
Service: Student Union Government should contribute to community and society at
large by coordinating volunteer activities such as promoting environmental
awareness campaigns, presenting gift items to charity homes and the needy, career
choice training to Primary and Secondary Schools in host communities.
9.
Operate
efficient, high quality services and activities.
10.
Promote
constructive relations between students and the wider community
CHALLENGES IN THE
LEADERSHIP OF STUDENT UNION GOVERNMENT (SUG)
It is the contention of this write up
that Student Unionism today in Federal Polytechnic Offa is far cry from what
was practiced some years back. This can be attributed to the socio-economic and
political systems in the larger society that has crept into the fabrics of our
education system. The following bedevil an effective Student Union leadership
and unionisms in Federal Polytechnic Offa;
1.
Candidate
aspiring for elective offices into Student Unions do not have a
well-articulated manifesto for implementation.
2.
Some
candidate are driven by personal and economic gains and not service
3.
Most
candidates do not understand the workings of the Union before presenting
themselves for service.
4.
Some
good candidates are marginalized along ethnic, religious and tribal
considerations.
5.
Some
credible candidates are wrongfully and deliberately dropped during screening by
ICEC.
6.
Gross
loss of confidence on the Union leadership
7.
Rift
arising from welfare issues and refusal of audience by government and
management of institutions.
8.
The
influence of financial inducement against a free, fair and credible election.
9.
Constitutional
breaches.
10.
Some
candidates are sponsored by certain interest group within and outside the
institutions.
SOLUTION TO EFFECTIVE STUDENT UNION
GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION IN FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC OFFA
1.
Student
Union Leaders should be alive to their constitutional responsibilities which
may include organizing social and sporting activities such as football
competition, Seminar, Cultural events, provision of services and protecting the
well-being of students.
2.
Student
Union leaders must know the limits of their powers and cooperate with
management towards achieving institutional goals without compromising standards
and the welfare of students.
3.
Student
Union leaders must encourage student to student interaction by calling
congresses, forming committees to assign duties, investigate reports and
exhaustively discuss issues before presentation to authorities.
4.
Student
Union leadership should educate congress members to be careful in handling
college properties and equipments to avoid penalties or discipline.
5.
Union
Executives must be exemplary in their actions, conduct free, fair and credible
election to usher in new Executives when their tenure is due, they must be
accessible, transparent and be objective.
6.
There
should be joint interactive meetings between Students’ union leaders,
management and security personnel for confidence building to avoid escalation
of demonstrations and the use of brute force should it arise.
7.
Introduction
of seminars and workshops on leadership training would enhance organizational
effectiveness in Federal Polytechnic Offa
8.
Student
Union leader must embrace dialogue and negotiation in addressing issues with
Management and deploy time-lines to stimulate response.
9.
Student
Union leaders must be astute, fearless and courageous in demanding for the
rights of students in the most civil manner.
10.
Being
the voice of the student community, they should strive to instill discipline
among students.
CONCLUSION
Management should encourage Students’
participation in Institutional governance which leads to organizational
effectiveness in Tertiary Institution in Nigeria. The inclusion of students in
the day to day running of educational system in Federal Polytechnic Offa will
address most challenges. To stimulate good student leadership and
organizational effectiveness, the government and management of our education
sector should organize courses, seminars, talk shows and workshops in
leadership training for students’ leaders to assist them develop the skills
needed to perform their responsibilities.
Also student union leaders should
emerge only through a free, fair and credible elections void of socio –
economic and political interferences.
Management should create the enabling
environment for learning and peaceful co-existence. Student should note that
management can provide for their welfare and comfort base on available
resources.
Every student is responsible for his
or her action while undergoing training in any higher institution of learning.
Union leaders and students alike should remember that their primary duty in the
school is to acquire skills and knowledge. They should avoid any actions that
may lead to expulsion, suspension, prosecution and imprisonment.
They should be guided by the oath of
allegiance they took during matriculation which ends only when they have
successfully graduated.
Aluta continua…….. Victoria
Acerta………… Amangla Awettu……. Nothing
shall discourage us.
Hon. Taiwo Seyifunmi
(SEYON)
Restoration Ambassador
NAMS President
2016/2017 Session
08062682544
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