The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has condemned the government’s crackdown on peaceful protesters, labelling the actions as “barbaric and undemocratic.”
The SSANU emphasised that peaceful protest was a fundamental right of citizens worldwide and should be respected by authorities.
The association also raised concerns about the conduct of various law enforcement agencies, particularly the Nigerian police, accusing them of suppressing peaceful demonstrations.
SSANU argued that such heavy-handed tactics not only violated citizens’ rights but also escalated tensions within the country.
In a communiqué issued at the conclusion of its 49th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja, SSANU President, Mohammed Ibrahim, criticised the Bola Tinubu-led government’s actions against peaceful protests.
He stated, “Nowhere in the world, particularly in democratic settings, do governments use their agencies to suppress genuine and peaceful protests by citizens, especially when there is clear hardship caused by poor governance.”
Ibrahim explained the Nigerian Police’s treatment of members of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of SSANU and NASU during their peaceful protest in Abuja.
He noted that the protesters faced harassment and intimidation at their gathering point, the Unity Fountain.
The NEC also condemned the unnecessary arrests and even killings of peaceful protesters who were demonstrating against bad governance in the country.
It expressed concern over the brutality exhibited by Nigerian law enforcement agencies, particularly the police, towards protesters, even those who had obtained prior permission from the authorities.
The NEC urged law enforcement agencies, especially the police, to abandon such barbaric and anti-democratic practices and to carry out their duties with professionalism to avoid exacerbating the already tense situation in the country.
The association also called on the Federal Government to pay its members the earned allowances, pointing out that N50 billion was allocated for this purpose in the 2023 budget.
Addressing the new policy recently announced by the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, which sets 18 as the minimum age for admission eligibility starting in 2025, SSANU expressed its disapproval.
“The NEC joins other critical stakeholders in the education sector in condemning the Federal Government’s decision to set the age limit for writing the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) and admission into tertiary institutions at 18,” the communiqué stated.
“The majority of stakeholders believe this policy would hinder the progress of the education sector.”
Reacting to Prof. Mamman’s comments that starting in 2025, only candidates aged 18 and above would be allowed to take the SSCE and JAMB exams, the NEC urged the government to conduct thorough consultations as promised to prevent potential crises in the education sector.
