Adedokun Waliyu 
Some students of the Lagos State University (LASU) have kicked against the decision of the institution not to shut its activities for three weeks as directed by the federal government.
Adamu Adamu, minister of education, had earlier ordered vice-chancellors of varsities across the country to stop academic activities from February 22 to March 14.
The minister said the directive is to allow students participate in the forthcoming elections.
But at an emergency meeting on February 13 to evaluate the directive, the senate of LASU announced the institution will go ahead with its second semester examination as planned.
The senate also introduced breaks for the students to enable them to participate in the elections.
“Senate after due consideration, approved the following: the ongoing examination should continue up to 6 pm. on Thursday, 23rd February 2023; students should vacate the campus immediately and resume to continue their examinations by 8 am on Tuesday, 28th February 2023,” it said.
“Students should vacate the campus by 6 pm. on Thursday 9th, March 2023 to resume to continue their examination by 8 am. on Tuesday, 14th March 2023; and staff members are to be on ground to carry out their duties.”
The Senate of @LASUOfficial at an emergency meeting on Monday, 13th February, decided on the Second Semester Examination as follows:
Examinations hold: Monday 13th – Thursday 23rd February, 2023
Break: Friday 24th- Monday, 27th February, 2023.
The development has continued to elicit mixed reactions in the university community with some students kicking against the directive.
Opeisa Olubisi, a law student at the institution, said the directive is “risky”.
“It will surely affect the election process as some of us won’t bother traveling. It is not everyone that will vote in Lagos. Some have their polling units outside Lagos and will spend hours traveling through different states. You don’t expect them to leave the school for only three days, return and leave again for another three days,” she said.
“It’s risky. It is not safe, especially during the election period. But since we have been asked to stay, it’s even okay that way. Let us just complete the exam so I’ll move straight to 300-level”.
Okaforwetife Anthony, a 200-level student, also lamented over the exam arrangement.
“I’m not a Lagosian. I’m not even Yoruba. I’m Igbo. I can’t travel for just three days. Had it been we are sticking to the three weeks issued by NUC, the whole election tension would have doused before I returned,” the student said.
On her part, Olubunmi Ayomide urged the school to shift the exams till after the elections to avoid “regrets”.
Ayomide argued that it might be difficult for the school to ensure safety of students if riot breaks out during the elections period.
When contacted, Olaniyi Jeariogbe, the institution’s information officer, said the arrangement was to avoid disruption of LASU’s academic calendar.
He added that the move is also to ensure students exercise their franchise during the elections.
“LASU did not fix any exam for the election period. The students were already preparing for their exams before now, and in the wisdom of the senate, for them to accommodate the period of the election, an examination break was announced to allow the students exercise their franchise,” he told TheCable Lifestyle.
“There is no way LASU will flout the directive by the federal government. We are a law-abiding institution.”
