"UNJUST SUSPENSION: Osun State College of Education Management Tramples on Students' Rights
In a brazen display of authoritarianism, the management of Osun State College of Education, Ila Orangun, has suspended 18 students' union leaders for engaging in a peaceful protest against an outrageous #20,000 levy. This draconian decision is a blatant attempt to stifle dissent, suppress students' rights, and maintain a culture of fear and intimidation.
The students' union had organized a peaceful protest to express their grievances against the management's decision to impose a #20,000 levy on students, with the threat of disallowing those who fail to pay from writing the forthcoming examinations. This levy is not only exorbitant but also unjustifiable, considering the economic hardship faced by many students and their families.
Rather than engaging with the students' union and addressing their concerns, the management chose to respond with brute force, suspending 18 students' union leaders and sending a chilling message to others who dare to speak out. This action is a clear violation of the students' right to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association.
The management's decision is not only unjust but also reckless, as it undermines the academic pursuits of the affected students and creates a toxic environment that is conducive to conflict rather than learning. It is also a betrayal of the trust that students and their families have placed in the institution.
We condemn this unjust suspension in the strongest terms possible and demand that the management of Osun State College of Education, Ila Orangun:
1. Immediately lifts the suspension of the 18 students' union leaders.
2. Withdraws the #20,000 levy and engages with the students' union to find alternative solutions.
3. Apologizes to the affected students and takes concrete steps to ensure that their academic pursuits are not disrupted.
We call on all stakeholders, including the Osun State Government, the National Human Rights Commission, and the Nigerian Union of Students, to intervene urgently and ensure that justice is served. The students' right to education, freedom of expression, and peaceful assembly must be respected and protected.
#JusticeForIlaOrangunStudents
#ReinstateTheSuspendedStudents
#EducationIsARightNotAPrivilege"
