In Nigeria, people are internally displaced for many reasons amongst which are: terrorism, militancy, natural disaster, territory conflicts, civil war, etc.

Whatever reason that may be responsible for internal displacement, the situations at all settlement camps remain the same. Neglect, malnutrition, mental and physical abuse, vulnerability, diversion of funds/aids from donors, even intermittent external aggression.

In some cases, the persons prefer the enemies’ camp to the IDP camp if given the opportunity to choose.

This situation in any typical IDP camps is not different from the harrowing experience that has plagued the Lagos State Polytechnic ( LASPOTECH) students.

The 40-year-old institution has witnessed up to four strike actions in the last 40 weeks for numerous faulty reasons, hence, disrupting and prolonging the academic years of the innocent students.

The industrial dispute that was said to have started in July 2016 had led to total shut down of the polytechnic on different occasions, starting from Thursday 20th -31st October, 2016; 20th April – 15th May, 2017; 5th -21st June, 2017 and 1st August – 15th.

At different periods, the strike actions featured demonstrations, press conferences, media appearances, visits to the Lagos State House of Assembly, visits to the state governor’s office, letters to the governor and even invasion of the campus by armed military men which attracted public outrage.

In all of these, the students languish in pains while the governor seems to enjoy the rhythm of their silent screams.

The absurdity of it is that nothing has been done to investigate the bestial treatment of the students by the soldiers who earn their living through the taxes paid by parents.

No doubt, there is a structure put in place by the governor to mitigate in situation like this. The structure starts from the rector of the institution, who believes that the staff unions cannot force him into the payment that is yet to be domesticated.

In such situation, one would have expected the governing council which is to serve as the representative of the Governor to mediate between the warring parties, but got enmeshed in the dirty mud.


http://www.theguildng.com/ambode-and-lagos-leaning-against-silent-screams-from-laspotech/