Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
OGUN, Nigeria – The National Association of Nigerian Students has issued a fiery condemnation of the management of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, over the suspension of students who participated in a peaceful protest on campus. In a press release dated June 5, 2026, NANS President, Dist. Comr. Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, described the suspensions as unjust, oppressive, and a violation of constitutionally guaranteed fundamental rights. He demanded an immediate reversal, warning that continued refusal would force the association to relocate its national secretariat to the university.
The statement, which opens with a quote from Martin Luther King Jr. — “An injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” — asserts that the protest that led to the suspensions was peaceful and lawful. Without specifying the exact date of the protest or the number of students suspended, the NANS president argued that any university administration that punishes students for exercising their rights has demonstrated “oppressive and authoritarian tendencies.” He noted that the right to peaceful protest is protected under Sections 39 and 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), which guarantee freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association.
“Any attempt to suppress or punish citizens or students for engaging in a peaceful and lawful protest raises serious concerns about the violation of these fundamental rights,” Akinteye wrote. He drew a sharp contrast between the treatment of students and that of university lecturers: “Members of ASUU are not sacked for going on strike; why then should any student be suspended or expelled for expressing their grievances?” The analogy references the Academic Staff Union of Universities, which has embarked on multiple nationwide strikes over funding and working conditions without its members facing dismissal for the act of striking itself.
The NANS president has directed the Zonal Coordinator of NANS Zone D and the Joint Campus Council Chairman of Oyo State to immediately intervene in the matter. He declared that as the “Grand Commander of Nigerian Students,” he cannot stand idly by while injustice, victimization, and oppression persist. The most striking threat in the release is that continued insistence on the unlawful suspension would compel the NANS leadership to relocate its secretariat to LAUTECH. The current location of the NANS national secretariat is not specified in the release, but the threat implies a high-stakes physical occupation or presence on the campus until the suspensions are reversed.
Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, established in 1990, has a long history of student activism and occasional clashes with management over issues ranging from tuition fees to academic calendars. The university, named after a prominent Nigerian politician and lawyer, has in past years witnessed protests over increased charges, poor hostel conditions, and delayed examinations. However, the specific grievances that triggered the latest protest were not detailed in the NANS press release. The association’s president focused instead on the principle of peaceful assembly, suggesting that the cause of the protest is secondary to the right to protest itself.
Efforts to reach the management of LAUTECH for comment were unsuccessful as of the time of this report. The university’s Public Relations Unit did not respond to calls or text messages. Similarly, the Oyo State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology has not issued any official statement regarding the suspensions. It remains unclear how many students were suspended, for how long, and whether any disciplinary hearings were conducted prior to the action.
Legal analysts note that while the Nigerian Constitution guarantees the right to peaceful assembly, universities often have internal regulations that prohibit actions deemed to disrupt academic activities. The courts have sometimes upheld institutional disciplinary measures when protests turn violent or cause property damage, but have also struck down punishments that disproportionately target peaceful expression. Without seeing the specific charges against the suspended students or the university’s published rules of conduct, it is difficult to assess the legality of the suspensions.
NANS, as the umbrella body representing Nigerian students in tertiary institutions across the country, has a track record of intervening in campus disputes. Under Akinteye’s leadership, the association has previously waded into issues such as tuition hikes, hostel accommodation shortages, and the welfare of students in federal and state universities. The threat to relocate the secretariat to LAUTECH is an unusual escalation, suggesting that the NANS leadership views this particular case as a test of its authority and a potential precedent for other institutions.
Reactions on social media have been mixed. Some students and alumni have voiced support for NANS, calling the suspensions an overreach by university authorities. Others have questioned whether the protest was entirely peaceful, noting that university managements rarely impose suspensions without some evidence of misconduct. Neither side has provided independent verification, leaving the public reliant on the claims made in the press release.
The NANS president concluded his statement by reaffirming his commitment to upholding the mandate of Nigerian students “without compromise.” He signed off with “Yours in solidarity,” a phrase that underscores the association’s posture as a defender of student rights against institutional power. For now, the ball is in LAUTECH’s court. If the suspensions are not reversed, students across Nigeria may witness the unprecedented sight of a national student secretariat setting up shop on a single campus — a move that would undoubtedly intensify pressure on the university’s governing council. Whether that pressure yields a reversal or a prolonged standoff remains to be seen.
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