The National Association of Nigerian Students, Southwest Zone D, wants tertiary institutions in Osun State shut down temporarily before the August 15 governorship election. The group raised alarms about security threats facing learners in the state.
NANS gave the Osun State Government, security agencies and university heads seven days to meet with student representatives and devise protection plans. Comrade Adeyemo Josiah, the zone's coordinator, made this known to journalists in Osogbo on Friday.
He said the call came after student union leaders and campus officials reported mounting political unrest in areas where many students reside. The decision reflected consultations with recognised student bodies across Osun.
Josiah stressed that students were civilians with no role in political contests and didn't deserve violence simply for studying in the state. He rejected suggestions that the position served any political agenda or attempted to undermine government or institutional authority.
The coordinator argued that while universities could reschedule classes and exams, they couldn't replace lost lives. "Academic calendars are flexible," he said, "but a student's life isn't."
He urged officials to act now rather than respond to tragedies later. According to him, dialogue offered the best path forward but only if it produced genuine safety measures for students.
Josiah warned that silence or insufficient action within the seven-day window would trigger next steps. "Should there be no meaningful engagement or satisfactory response within this period, NANS Southwest Zone D, in consultation with recognised student leadership across Osun State, shall announce and commence lawful, peaceful and democratic actions considered necessary to protect the lives, welfare and constitutional rights of Nigerian students," he told reporters.
The statement came amid growing tension across the state as political activities intensify ahead of the election. Many students live in communities where the contest has sparked conflicts between rival camps.
University management teams face mounting pressure from multiple quarters to address campus safety. The ultimatum signals students intend to force the issue if officials don't respond promptly.
