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By Àkà nnà Olúwaségún Michael
In every democratic society, education is not merely a social service, it is a fundamental political right. The Nigerian Constitution, under Section 18, mandates that the government should strive to eradicate illiteracy and provide free, compulsory, and universal primary education, as well as free university education as and when practicable. But, the phrase "as and when practicable" has been used so often as an escape route for successive administrations to abdicate responsibility.
The commodification of education in Nigeria depsist a political ideology, which is a system intended to marginalise the poor and deepen inequality. Public tertiary institutions, originally envisioned as equalizers of opportunity, are now battlegrounds where policies of commercialization threaten to price out the very citizens they were meant to uplift. The conversation about education is no longer about access or quality but about affordability for the privileged few.
The rising cost of tuition fees, introduction of arbitrary service charges, and the withdrawal of subsidies under the guise of “cost-sharing models” expose the political decision to prioritize neoliberal economic policies over citizens’ welfare. These are not accidental occurrences; they are calculated political choices made by an elite class that benefits from the under-education of the masses. An uneducated populace is easier to manipulate, disenfranchise, and control.
In this light, the struggle for free and accessible education transcends mere activism, it becomes a political fight against systemic oppression. It challenges the very foundation of an elitist political order that sustains itself by limiting opportunities for upward mobility. Hence, the demand for education is intrinsically linked to the broader struggle for social justice, democratic participation, and national development.
Students, therefore, are not just stakeholders in this fight; they are frontline actors. Their demand for free education is a demand for a restructured political system that prioritizes human capital development over the pursuit of profit and the entrenchment of privilege.
The Vanguard of Educational Liberation
Historically, student unionism in Nigeria has been a critical force in resisting anti-poor policies and championing the cause of free education. From the iconic 1978 “Ali Must Go” protests against fee hikes to numerous demonstrations across campuses in recent decades, students’ unions have consistently positioned themselves as the conscience of the nation’s educational sector.
However, the current reality reveals a troubling decline in the radicalism and vibrancy levels of student unions. Co-optation by university management, internal factionalism, and an overemphasis on cosmetic initiatives have diluted their once-powerful voice. Instead of being platforms for mobilization and resistance, many unions have become appendages of university authorities, complicit in the commercialization agenda.
The struggle for free and accessible education is fundamentally a political struggle, and students’ unions must reclaim their rightful role as the political opposition to anti-people educational policies. This requires a shift from tokenistic engagements such as beauty pageants, awards, and ceremonial “One Day President” gimmicks towards organized, issue-based activism.
To be effective, students’ unions must embrace ideological clarity. They must educate their members on the political economy of education, fostering critical consciousness about how neoliberal policies impact access to education. Union leaders should see themselves not as mere administrators of campus events but as political mobilizers tasked with challenging structural inequalities.
Reclaiming this political identity is not just a romantic return to the past, it is a strategic necessity. Without a radical, organized, and politically conscious students’ union movement, the struggle for free and accessible education will remain fragmented, reactive, and ultimately ineffective.
The dynamics at play within the Nigerian political landscape are eerily mirrored in the governance structures of tertiary institutions. Just as the national elite prioritize policies that deepen inequality, university administrations adopt commercialization strategies that alienate economically disadvantaged students. In both cases, governance is reduced to managing the optics of progress while sidestepping the real issues.
University authorities, much like the national political class, often justify fee increments and cost-sharing models with narratives of financial sustainability. However, these justifications rarely address questions of accountability, transparency, or alternative funding models. This mirrors how national governments justify subsidy removals without tackling endemic corruption or fiscal mismanagement.
Similarly, students’ union executives, particularly at the leadership level, often mirror the complacency and opportunism of mainstream politicians. Rather than challenge unjust policies, they become entangled in patronage networks, prioritizing personal ambitions over collective welfare. This explains why many students’ unions today are silent on critical issues such as fee hikes, hostel shortages, and poor academic facilities.
The silence of Students’ Representative Councils (SRCs) is particularly telling. As supposed legislative bodies, their failure to interrogate university policies reflects the broader failure of Nigeria’s National Assembly to provide effective oversight of the executive. This political apathy within student governance structures undermines the very purpose of unionism and emboldens authorities to continue with exploitative practices unchecked.
Therefore, the struggle for free education on campus is inseparable from the national struggle for accountable governance. Students’ unions must recognize that their fight is part of a larger political movement aimed at dismantling systemic structures of inequality and oppression.
The Political Economy of Free Education
Nigeria’s problem is not a lack of resources but a mismanagement of existing ones. The annual budgets reveal a disturbing pattern of disproportionate spending on non-productive sectors, inflated overheads, and entrenched corruption. The political will to invest in education is lacking, not because it is financially unfeasible, but because it does not serve the immediate interests of the ruling elite.
For instance, the cost of legislative allowances, frivolous security votes, and executive luxuries far outweigh the budgetary allocations for education. The political decision to prioritize elitist comforts over public education exposes the systemic choices that perpetuate inequality. Free and accessible education is, therefore, not an economic impossibility but a political choice.
Furthermore, countries with similar economic challenges have implemented free or highly subsidized tertiary education through strategic prioritization and anti-corruption measures. Nigeria’s failure in this regard is a reflection of a political elite that benefits from an uneducated, disempowered populace.
Students’ unions must articulate this argument clearly and consistently. They must frame the demand for free education not as an unrealistic wish-list but as a legitimate political demand grounded in principles of social justice, equitable resource distribution, and national development priorities.
While protests and demonstrations have historically been effective tools, the struggle for free and accessible education requires a multi-pronged strategy in the contemporary context. Students’ unions must evolve from reactive agitation to proactive policy engagement.
However, strategic mobilization also involves internal restructuring. Students’ unions must invest in capacity building, leadership training, and ideological orientation of their members. They must create platforms for political education, fostering a new generation of student leaders who are not only vocal but also visionary.
Importantly, unions must leverage digital media strategically. Social media should be used not just for publicity stunts but as a tool for advocacy, mobilization, and public accountability. By shaping public discourse, students can influence policy narratives and challenge the dominant ideologies that justify educational commercialization.
Ultimately, the fight for free and accessible education is a long-term political struggle that demands resilience, strategic thinking, and unwavering commitment. It is a fight not just for the present generation but for the future of Nigeria’s democracy and development.
