Students Protest Poor Living Conditions at University of Ibadan

Students of the University of Ibadan protested worsening conditions caused by a staff strike that led to power outages, water shortages, and disrupted academic activities, demanding the school be shut down until issues are resolved.

Students of the University of Ibadan staged a protest on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, over worsening living and learning conditions on campus caused by an ongoing strike by non-academic staff.

The demonstration reportedly began in the early hours with students from Independence Hall and Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall but quickly expanded across several parts of the university, including lecture halls in the Faculty of Science, as more students joined in. Academic activities were disrupted as the protest spread to other faculties such as Computing and Social Sciences.

The crisis stems from the industrial action by the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), which has led to major service breakdowns, including lack of electricity, water shortages, and shutdown of key facilities.

Speaking during the protest, Students’ Union President, Temidayo Adeboye, said the situation reflects deep frustration among students rather than just a protest. He stressed that students can no longer continue learning in such harsh conditions, citing the absence of basic amenities and disrupted academic activities.

He urged the university management to temporarily close the school and allow students to return home, emphasizing that the current environment is not suitable for studying.

Earlier, the Students’ Union had expressed support for the strike by NASU and SSANU, describing it as a fight for fairness and justice within the university system. However, the union also raised concerns about the negative impact on students, including irregular power and water supply, closure of the campus health centre (Jaja Clinic), and increasing hardship in daily life.

While backing the workers’ demands, the union insisted that students should not bear the consequences of the dispute and called on the government and relevant authorities to urgently resolve the crisis through meaningful dialogue.

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SOURCES: ALLSCHOOL, SAHARA REPORTERS