The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called on the management of the Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), Osara, Kogi State, to reconsider the one-year suspension imposed on four students involved in a campus altercation, urging the institution to balance discipline with compassion.
The appeal follows the university’s recent disciplinary decisions, which saw four students suspended for one academic session over fighting, while two others were expelled in a separate case after being found culpable of alleged same-sex conduct under the institution’s disciplinary regulations. Notably, NANS’ intervention was limited to the case involving the suspended students and did not extend to those who were expelled.
In a statement issued by its National Treasurer, Asmawu Idris, the student body reaffirmed that it does not condone violence or any form of misconduct within tertiary institutions. Nevertheless, it argued that disciplinary sanctions should pursue correction and rehabilitation rather than permanently disrupting the educational journey of students, particularly where first-time offenders are concerned.
According to the association, reports indicating that some of the affected students are female and had no previous record of misconduct make the case deserving of careful review. NANS appealed to the university authorities to consider alternative sanctions that would uphold discipline without causing long-term setbacks to the students’ academic and career aspirations.
Rather than questioning the university’s authority to enforce its regulations, the association emphasised that every institution has the responsibility to maintain order and ensure a peaceful learning environment. Its concern, however, centres on whether the punishment imposed is proportionate to the offence and consistent with the broader educational objective of reforming student behaviour.
The development has once again drawn attention to the delicate balance universities must strike between enforcing discipline and safeguarding students’ educational interests. Across Nigeria, tertiary institutions regularly rely on disciplinary committees to investigate cases involving examination malpractice, violence, cult-related activities and breaches of institutional rules. Depending on the gravity of the offence, penalties may range from formal warnings to suspension or outright expulsion.
Education administrators maintain that firm disciplinary measures are essential to preserving order and protecting members of the university community. Student leaders, on the other hand, often advocate restorative approaches in appropriate cases, arguing that young people should be given opportunities to learn from their mistakes where such options do not compromise campus safety or institutional integrity.
As part of its intervention, NANS expressed readiness to engage directly with the university management to better understand the circumstances surrounding the incident and to explore what it described as a fair, balanced and compassionate resolution. The association said its position is guided by its commitment to protecting the welfare of Nigerian students while respecting the disciplinary powers vested in university authorities.
The student body also appealed to the affected students and the wider campus community to remain calm, respect institutional procedures and continue to conduct themselves responsibly while awaiting any further decision from the university.
Whether the management of CUSTECH will review the sanctions remains uncertain. However, the appeal has added another dimension to the national conversation on discipline in higher education—one that seeks to reconcile accountability with the rehabilitative role that universities are expected to play in shaping the lives and future of young people.
