If Not for SRC’s Intervention, 50-70% Of ABU Students Cannot Return For 2023/2024 Academic Session___ President

By Amina Ismaila (200lvl), Haris Muhammad Bashir (300lvl), and Aliyu Baba Mohammed (400lvl),

The President of Students’ Representative Council (SRC), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Comrade Muhammadu Aminu Abdulazeez said the timely intervention of the union on the increment of school fees by the management was the reason why students of the institution were able to return back to school for the ongoing academic session.

Comrade Aminu stated this during an exclusive interview with ABU Campus Press Reporter at the Secretariat of the union in Samaru, the main campus of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

He said the school management was grappling with the financial crisis due to the current economic realities, hence the outrageous hike in school fees this session. However, the Students’ Representative Council stood firm and rejected the hike wholeheartedly for students to be able to pay.

“The Students of ABU would forever live to remember that SRC under my leadership fought for the reduction of school fees. If not for that rejection; that we rejected the proposal by the school management, I think 50-70% of the students cannot come back to ABU, Zaria.”

Comrade Aminu added that ABU is known to be the cheapest and most qualitative University in Nigeria. As such, they did everything humanly possible to keep the school with the good image of its affordability accompanied by quality education.

In the same vein, the President revealed that the union (for the first time) tactfully intervened in the crisis between the management and the casual staff who nearly went on strike because of payment issues, and the differences were amicably resolved. Part of his statement reads: “Today, if the casual staff should go on strike, you know how students would suffer in the hostels. So, bringing peace between the school management and the casual staff is one of the legacies this administration will leave behind.”

He further added that the union has trained over 2000 students on different skills, including digital skills that would help the beneficiaries to sustain their lives even after leaving the ABU environment.

Speaking of the upcoming Cultural Carnival, the President assured the students of another memorable event; as all hands are on deck for the success of the 3rd cultural carnival in ABU, Zaria, which aim at bringing the students together to showcase, appreciate and learn about the beauty of other people's culture.

He acknowledged the challenges the union is facing, basically including the lack of funds, which is hindering the activities of SRC. Nevertheless, he said the union is trying its best in the aspects of students' welfare and other projects that are of benefit to the entire university community, thereby keeping a great milestone of achievements that subsequent administrations will follow.

The President advised the students to be very serious with their primary essence of being in ABU, which is to achieve academic excellence. He said any activities of students outside the academics, including Comradeship are nothing but secondary.

“I advise students to study hard, respect the laws of Ahmadu Bello University and be good ambassadors for the university within and outside its community.”

Comrade Aminu assumed office in October, 2023 taken-over from the immediate past President, Kawuje. He has served the union in different capacities, such as P.R.O during the Ali Sadiq administration and Director of Sports during Kawuje’s regime