The Education Rights Campaign (ERC) has thrown its support behind the students of the University of Ibadan, Oyo State, as they embark on a peaceful protest against the university management’s rationing of electricity supply on campus.
The group also stands with the students in their demand for an immediate reversal of the current fee hike and the end to the persecution of three students involved in the agitation against the fee hike.
In a statement issued by the ERC’s University of Ibadan Branch Acting Secretary, Comrade Tobi Wunor, the group commended the students for their laudable and achievable demands and encouraged them to remain steadfast and resilient in their protest.
The protest was ignited by an internal memo from the Vice Chancellor directing the Works and Maintenance Department to implement a 10-hour power supply to the students. According to the memo, the power supply should be provided for 6 hours during the day, from 8am to 2pm, and 4 hours at night, from 10pm to 2am.
The university management attributed the power supply rationing to the severe energy crisis affecting the country, which has resulted in a drop in power supply from the national grid to the institution. However, the ERC criticized the schedule, stating that it would hamper academic activity and performance.
The ERC emphasized that the new fee hike should lead to improvements in the living and learning conditions on campus, including electricity supply. The group called for the immediate reversal of the fee hike, an end to the prosecution of students involved in peaceful protests against the fee hike, and proper and adequate funding of public universities under democratic management and control.
The ERC also urged the workers’ unions on campus, including ASUU, SSANU, NAAT, and NASU, to show solidarity and support the demands of the protesting students.
The students’ protest against power supply rationing highlights the ongoing struggle for affordable and quality education in Nigeria, with the ERC voicing its commitment to ensuring the rights of students are upheld and their voices heard.
