Today 22-05-17 marks the date stipulated by the UNN shuttle Union to commence strike. According to them, they will not give in to the conditions of the SUG as they believe they can operate with or without the students patronizing them.
The SUG president on the other hand have given hope, in his statement that conveys the message of Alternative means of transportation being
finalized. It reads;
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, STUDENTS ' UNION GOVERNMENT, UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, NSUKKA
"IF THERE IS NO STRUGGLE, THERE IS NO PROGRESS"
The above caption is a quote from Frederick Douglass; an African-American social reformer and writer. A man who found the need to stand firmly against something he believed should be abolished, an abomination; Slavery.
On the 25th of April, I announced to the media the outcome of a meeting held between the shuttle union and the Students' union government. A negotiation assembly turned into a selfish plea by the shuttle motorists as reasons to continue 'squashing' and 'squishing' 6 people into a 4 seater vehicle. Conveying students like cargoes and not passengers. Not only an embarrassment to the school but also precarious for any civilised society and even stated by the Federal Road Safety Commission Acts as an unsafe and illegal practice!
But in all sincerity, do we need the FRSC to make us see that forcing and ramming 6 adults into a vehicle with 4 seats is not just awkward but also very uncomfortable and dangerous?
Concluding that message sent on the 25th of April; I summoned for opinions of my fellow Lions and Lionesses,in order to engage them in the government process and in the engineering of their own transportation system.... And they replied, oooh... they did.
At this juncture I would like to appreciate everyone who sent in their suggestions. Calls and texts flooded in through different media "pigeonholes" ; Facebook, Whatsapp, SMS, Phone calls... from Undergraduates and even Graduates of UNN! It was a beauty to get such massive reaction from the Lions' republic and it elicits that the students are indeed attentive and anxious to participate in Students' union affairs.
Since the 25th of April, a word had not been mentioned about this transportation ill we face here in UNN. The SUG did not go silent for lack of words or action, we simply went back to the drawing board; Going back and forth with the highs and lows, looking for alternatives, analysing logistical data to understand how an increment in price can be avoided and collating the opinions of Students, in order to postulate a solution that is tailored in line with the public opinion of the Students we serve.
Recently, it was put to the shuttle drivers that they have to abolish this routine of literally "filling the shuttle to the very brim"; and once again, they weaponized the Strike word. It is sad to understand that the shuttle drivers see students of this citadel as clients they can do without, the same students who make up the largest portion of their patrons; So they've threatened with strike.
This leads me to the very crux of this message, which is to let you know that said "Strike" by the shuttle union is in its TAKEOFF STAGE. Monday, 22nd of this month, being the stipulated day for the commencement of this strike action. We, the SUG have decided to stand our ground, steadfast. We will not be shoved around. They either transport us like humans or they don't at all.
Now I know we are humans and I understand the jitters that come with change of this drastic measure but a wise man once said "Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable... Every step towards the goal of justice requires sacrifice and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals."
I want to ask for a calm and give the assurance that alternative transportation means are already being finalized and even though there would be little inconveniences coupled with this struggle, students have to understand that this is a normalcy with perseverance and struggles, this is only temporary and this is essential in what we fight for.
Your collective opinions will highly influence the ultimate stand of the SUG.
Freedom cometh by struggle
A luta Continua, Vitoria Á scérta
Yours-in-the-struggle,
Comr. Ezeja Joshua
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