Students’ Union Government Returns To UNILAG After Nine-Year Suspension

The University of Lagos has officially reinstated its Students’ Union Government (SUG) after a nine-year suspension, marking the election of new student leaders for the 2025/2026 academic session.

According to a statement released on the university’s official website, the election produced the Students’ Union President and General Secretary as part of a structured transition process toward the full restoration of the union.

The election was conducted by the Directorate of Student Affairs under the supervision of Dean Johnson Agunsoye and took place at the Common Room of Moremi Hall on the university campus. University authorities noted that the newly elected officers were chosen from the current cohort of faculty presidents, following the guidelines set for the transition.

At the conclusion of the exercise, Bolaji Akinpelu of the Faculty of Arts emerged as Students’ Union President with nine votes, while Daniel Solomon of the Faculty of Computing and Informatics was elected General Secretary, also with nine votes.

Agunsoye described the election as a fulfillment of a commitment made by Vice-Chancellor Folasade Ogunsola to facilitate the return of student governance. He highlighted that the reinstatement of the union aims to enhance student participation in university governance and equip students with leadership skills.

“The restoration of the union is intended not only to provide a platform for students to express their views, but also to prepare them for leadership responsibilities and encourage them to become solution-driven leaders,” he said.

The Students’ Union Government had been suspended since April 24, 2016, when the university senate dissolved the union following student protests that disrupted academic activities. The unrest was reportedly triggered by grievances over inadequate electricity and water supply on campus.

At the time, student organisations, including the National Association of Nigerian Students, strongly criticised the suspension, staging protests against the rustication of some student leaders involved in the demonstrations. The groups accused the university of suppressing student voices.

University management maintained that the suspension was necessary to restore order and ensure uninterrupted academic activities. In 2024, Vice-Chancellor Ogunsola assured stakeholders that steps had begun to reinstate the Students’ Union Government, emphasizing the vital role of student governance in fostering a vibrant academic environment and promoting student welfare.