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Comr. Chris Agu is the immediate past SUG President of the UNN. In an exclusive interview with our Reporter, the following extracts were made:
Reporter: Please can I meet you?
Comr. Agu: I am Comrade Agu Christian, popularly called Lion Chris, the immediate past SUG President of the UNN. Reporter: Ok. Nice meeting you. What can you say about the current SUG UNN?
Comr. Agu: Obviously at this point I have to speak out. I had received thousands of calls within the past three months, all being complaints from various quarters about the current Students' Union Government in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
I had remained skeptical about the various complaints, hoping that the new government was still coming up with their plan.
At this point, with barely few months to the end of their tenure, one can unequivocally say that the current government have no meaningful plan for the students, but rather has been busy playing the role of a subordinate to the management, which is not the true definition of students unionism.
Comr. Agu: Obviously at this point I have to speak out. I had received thousands of calls within the past three months, all being complaints from various quarters about the current Students' Union Government in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
I had remained skeptical about the various complaints, hoping that the new government was still coming up with their plan.
At this point, with barely few months to the end of their tenure, one can unequivocally say that the current government have no meaningful plan for the students, but rather has been busy playing the role of a subordinate to the management, which is not the true definition of students unionism.
Reporter: Can you do a comparison between your tenure and the current administration? Comr. comr .Agu: When I took over as the SUG President of the UNN, the atmosphere was highly challenging with the fact that no single document was handed over to me, neither was there any readily available fund, the advanta
However, all these constraints notwithstanding, my government was able to achieve the following:
i. Maintaining a crisis free atmosphere;
ii. Drastic reduction in shuttle fare;
iii. Slight reduction in the price of food on campus;
iv. Attracting free medicare by NACA to the campus, in which over 2, 000 students and staffs benefitted;
v. Attracting the DFID to offer free leadership training to students in which four of our students, namely: Abah Joe, Agbo Mike, Nebo Love and Ofurum Favour were trained in Abuja; and so far, over 250 students had been trained here on campus, all free of charge with weekly emoluments for the participants;
vi. Preventing the management from evacuating the "illegal" occupants of Mbanefo Hostel;
vii. Preventing the management from making the Laptop scheme for first years a compulsory, but rather optional;
viii. Taking our students to Obudu Mountain Resort for a life-time experience at a very subsidised rate.
Personally, as a goal-getter and result oriented student unionist, I saw all this achievements as not enough. I was however relieved when it came to my mind that governance is a continuity, meaning that my successor should start from where I stopped. Regrettably, reverse has been the case as the current government has not been able to consolidate on the "little" achievement I recorded, let alone bringing in new ideas.
Their only achievement so far has been incessantly committing both unionism and administrative errors.
ges of which the current government enjoyed. However, all these constraints notwithstanding, my government was able to achieve the following:
i. Maintaining a crisis free atmosphere;
ii. Drastic reduction in shuttle fare;
iii. Slight reduction in the price of food on campus;
iv. Attracting free medicare by NACA to the campus, in which over 2, 000 students and staffs benefitted;
v. Attracting the DFID to offer free leadership training to students in which four of our students, namely: Abah Joe, Agbo Mike, Nebo Love and Ofurum Favour were trained in Abuja; and so far, over 250 students had been trained here on campus, all free of charge with weekly emoluments for the participants;
vi. Preventing the management from evacuating the "illegal" occupants of Mbanefo Hostel;
vii. Preventing the management from making the Laptop scheme for first years a compulsory, but rather optional;
viii. Taking our students to Obudu Mountain Resort for a life-time experience at a very subsidised rate.
Personally, as a goal-getter and result oriented student unionist, I saw all this achievements as not enough. I was however relieved when it came to my mind that governance is a continuity, meaning that my successor should start from where I stopped. Regrettably, reverse has been the case as the current government has not been able to consolidate on the "little" achievement I recorded, let alone bringing in new ideas.
Their only achievement so far has been incessantly committing both unionism and administrative errors.
Reporter: What are the errors you have noticed in the current government?
Comr. Agu: As I said earlier, one of the greatest achievement of my government was a drastic reduction in shuttle fare and food price on campus. However, towards the end of my tenure, the shuttle operators deviated from the reduced fare. This scenario is obviously common during the transition period of any government, coupled with the fluctuation in the fuel pump price at that period. Ordinarily, one would have expected that as the new government comes in, they should be able to use the new spirit and goodwill that comes with every new government to mandate the shuttle operators to revert back to the approved fare. Disappointedly, they were unable to do so.
More so, constitutionally and nation-wide, the organization of the "Mr" and "Miss" pageantry event of any campus has always been the sole prerogative of the Students Union. In fact, when I came on board, the then Miss UNN event being organized by the Kings and Queens Forum was just some days ahead; I took a decision to cancel the event. It was almost canceled if not for pleas and calls from various quarters, including the intervention of the then Director of Youth Friendly Centre, UNN, Dr. Goodhead Uchendu. Also, during the course of my administration, Lion FM came up with the plan to organize Mr. UNN pageantry show under my nose without my knowledge. I heard about it just like every other students when they were advertising for interested individuals to pick their form. Of course I had to stop the program. Regrettably, under the watch of the current government, different bodies had organized both the Mr and Miss UNN pageantry show on campus. This may seem insignificant, but allowing ordinary body to organize such a highly prerogative union event will end up reducing the image of the union at a time when we should do everything humanly possible in reviving the image of the union that had been dead in the last five years due to the ban placed on students unionism in the university.
Comr. Agu: As I said earlier, one of the greatest achievement of my government was a drastic reduction in shuttle fare and food price on campus. However, towards the end of my tenure, the shuttle operators deviated from the reduced fare. This scenario is obviously common during the transition period of any government, coupled with the fluctuation in the fuel pump price at that period. Ordinarily, one would have expected that as the new government comes in, they should be able to use the new spirit and goodwill that comes with every new government to mandate the shuttle operators to revert back to the approved fare. Disappointedly, they were unable to do so.
More so, constitutionally and nation-wide, the organization of the "Mr" and "Miss" pageantry event of any campus has always been the sole prerogative of the Students Union. In fact, when I came on board, the then Miss UNN event being organized by the Kings and Queens Forum was just some days ahead; I took a decision to cancel the event. It was almost canceled if not for pleas and calls from various quarters, including the intervention of the then Director of Youth Friendly Centre, UNN, Dr. Goodhead Uchendu. Also, during the course of my administration, Lion FM came up with the plan to organize Mr. UNN pageantry show under my nose without my knowledge. I heard about it just like every other students when they were advertising for interested individuals to pick their form. Of course I had to stop the program. Regrettably, under the watch of the current government, different bodies had organized both the Mr and Miss UNN pageantry show on campus. This may seem insignificant, but allowing ordinary body to organize such a highly prerogative union event will end up reducing the image of the union at a time when we should do everything humanly possible in reviving the image of the union that had been dead in the last five years due to the ban placed on students unionism in the university.
Reporter: The President of the SUG UNN is currently the President of the Rotaract Club of UNN, what is your view about that?
Comr. Agu: When I was elected as the President of the union, I was still serving as the President of my "Kporakpo". Honourably, bearing in mind the enormous challenges of the new office, I had to resign as my Kporakpo President even before my swearing-in as the SUG President. Pitiably today, the President of the SUG UNN also doubles as the President of the Rotaract Club of UNN. This is laughable and a disgrace to the union. The President of the SUG in any campus no doubt is the number one student, and of course the highest position any student could attain on campus. That shows how exalted and dignifying the position is, and should be. But obviously the current union President do not see it as such. On one hand, the position of the SUG President is highly tedious and time demanding. During my days in office, I can count the number of classes I attended. And even when I managed to attend one, there in the class, all I will be doing is meditating on the issues of the union. Therefore, for any one to be both the SUG President and the President of a club that is highly demanding as Rotaract Club at the same time, definitely, one, if not the two offices will be lacking effective leadership. On the other hand, holding another student leadership position in addition to the exalted position of the SUG President in the same campus goes a long way in diminishing the image of the union. Imagine the Governor of Enugu state being the the President of the Rotary Club of Enugu. Isn't that laughable?
Comr. Agu: When I was elected as the President of the union, I was still serving as the President of my "Kporakpo". Honourably, bearing in mind the enormous challenges of the new office, I had to resign as my Kporakpo President even before my swearing-in as the SUG President. Pitiably today, the President of the SUG UNN also doubles as the President of the Rotaract Club of UNN. This is laughable and a disgrace to the union. The President of the SUG in any campus no doubt is the number one student, and of course the highest position any student could attain on campus. That shows how exalted and dignifying the position is, and should be. But obviously the current union President do not see it as such. On one hand, the position of the SUG President is highly tedious and time demanding. During my days in office, I can count the number of classes I attended. And even when I managed to attend one, there in the class, all I will be doing is meditating on the issues of the union. Therefore, for any one to be both the SUG President and the President of a club that is highly demanding as Rotaract Club at the same time, definitely, one, if not the two offices will be lacking effective leadership. On the other hand, holding another student leadership position in addition to the exalted position of the SUG President in the same campus goes a long way in diminishing the image of the union. Imagine the Governor of Enugu state being the the President of the Rotary Club of Enugu. Isn't that laughable?
Reporter: What will be your general assessment of the current government?
Comr. Agu: The union I had seen so far is the type of students union which has made itself to be a subordinate of the school management. A government that will announce to the students managements' plan/action irrespective of the direct effect such a plan will have on the students and without any recourse to the students whose interest they are meant to defend at all cost. Management in the course of discharging their duties will definitely come up with different plans and policies which they feel are rational. It should be the responsibility of the student union officials to convince the management on any action that is perceived to have great adverse effect on the students. And in convincing, you are also meant to show some level of rascality, if the need be, until you arrive at a logical conclusion. Students unionism is a dogged game, not saying "yes sir" to every proposal of the management.
Comr. Agu: The union I had seen so far is the type of students union which has made itself to be a subordinate of the school management. A government that will announce to the students managements' plan/action irrespective of the direct effect such a plan will have on the students and without any recourse to the students whose interest they are meant to defend at all cost. Management in the course of discharging their duties will definitely come up with different plans and policies which they feel are rational. It should be the responsibility of the student union officials to convince the management on any action that is perceived to have great adverse effect on the students. And in convincing, you are also meant to show some level of rascality, if the need be, until you arrive at a logical conclusion. Students unionism is a dogged game, not saying "yes sir" to every proposal of the management.
Reporter: Honestly it has been a nice time with you. Please you final word.
Comr. Agu: Thank you so much. It is indeed a pitiable dismal that the current government can not consolidate on the achievements my administration recorded. This is regrettable.
I still look forward to see that President who will start from where I stopped.
Comr. Agu: Thank you so much. It is indeed a pitiable dismal that the current government can not consolidate on the achievements my administration recorded. This is regrettable.
I still look forward to see that President who will start from where I stopped.
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