Nasarawa University Management Inaugurate Students Representative Council
Olukayode Babalola
Management of Nasarawa State University Keffi (NSUK) has inaugurated a Students Representative Council (SRC) to manage the affairs of students thereby replacing the institution’s Student Union Government (SUG).
Prof. Saadatu Liman, Vice Chancellor of the university oversaw the inauguration of the 21 member SRC at the university in Keffi local government area of the state on Tuesday.
In her address, Liman said what led to the formation of the SRC was the abortion of the SUG election on September 4, 2024 due to its rancorous nature thereby leading violence in which university properties were destroyed.
“This led to the constitution of a high-powered committee that brainstormed on the immediate and remote causes of the crisis and recommended measures to address the situation as well as to forestall it’s future reoccurrence, including annulling the election and suspension of the SUG,” she said.
She explained that the university management then decided to after painstaking discussions considered the report of the high powered committee and decided to develop the NSUK model of the SRC as an alternative structure for the students leadership in the university.
“The SRC is made up of 21 members drawn from students’ body based on faculty representation, character, gender representation and above all the willingness and zeal to serve the students.
“The SRC will perform the functions of the SUG until such a time the university feels it is auspicious to conduct a transparent IT-based electronic election of the SUG and it’s organs,” she said.
In an interview, Dr Yahaya Mohammed, Dean of Students Affairs in the university explained that members of the SRC were selected based on their academic performance and the fact that they are course representatives in their various departments.
“Using any other method will attract sentiments and unnecessary attention. That’s why we chose them based on their CGPA and the fact that they are already course representatives in their departments. So they already have leadership in them,” he said.
“I have a lot of expectations from the SRC and I tell you by the end of the year most universities across the country will adopt this model. SUG should be a thing of the past. They have not complimented students well,” he said.
In his remarks, Mr Amao Testimony, Chairman of the SRC appreciated the management of the university for creating a new representative structure for students after the violence that erupted over the recent SUG elections.
“We will ensure transparency, accountability and competency and the power and mandate given to us will not be abused by any one of us,” he said. (NAN)