CHANGING PATTERNS OF POLICE STUDENTS’ RELATIONSHIP IN NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES

Abstract

This paper examines the relationship between the Nigerian police and students in institutions of higher learning in the country. It is argued that, the character of the Nigerian state has influenced the history of her police as an organization, their roles, and relationship with the students. The paper also shows that whereas Nigerian students have challenged the Nigerian government in the past over unpopular national policy matters, this has changed since the end of the cold war and its` corresponding increased influence of capitalist value preferences on social service delivery in Nigeria. Unlike before, Nigerian students at the moment have become very receptive of repressive state laws by hardly presenting a united view on national policies. Many of them now encounter the police over issues like: cultism, rape, armed robbery and fraudulent practices. This is one of the indicators of how prevailing challenges in our institutions of higher learning have influenced the commitment of the students to a better society. Data for the paper were generated from secondary sources and analysed descriptively. The theoretical thrust is the Political Economy model of social development. Responsible governance is seen as very helpful in making both the police and students alive and responsive to the roles expected of them in a democratic society like ours