Zenas Olamide 

The Faculty Legislative Council (FLC), Association of Faculty of Arts Students(AFAS), University of Ibadan, held its first plenary session June 28, 2024, at the Postgraduate Lecture Room, Faculty of Arts New Building.

The sitting slated for 3 pm started at 3:18 pm due to the struggle of securing a venue with 25 people; 16 Honorable members, 6 observers,the speaker, clerk and deputy clerk. It commenced with the opening prayer from the speaker, Honourable Olajide Miqdad, who also presided over the sitting. The inauguration of the Honorable members took place as the oath of office was recited while the speaker urged every honorable member to be objective and not be directed by anyone, to fear God and do everything to promote the interest of AFASites. 

Honourable Daniel Yeboah, from the Religious Studies constituency, brought forward a petition. According to him, an AFASite from the department of Religious Studies was deprived of some certain benefits during the last session’s election, which was, being inaugurated. Honourable Olufemi from the Linguistics constituency requested the office she contested for, with a response that she contested for the office of the welfare director. 

The petition led a tug of war between the Honorable member representing the religious studies constituency and the house. In the petition he read, there were two things expected from the FLC to make up for what happened. The first is the request for public apology be made and also, an explanation should be made as to why a new constitution was used.

In response to this, the speaker said an “invalid” constitution was used to conduct last session’s election and responding to the other petition, an Honorable from the department of linguistics said the house would get back to him concerning the date of the apology. Furthermore, the Speaker urged the Honorable members to make it their point of duty to read the constitution for any possible amendment.

The inauguration of the house committee took place where five committees were announced including the Chairman and assistant. The committees are: Investigative committee, Audit and Finance committee,Welfare committee,Sport committee and Public Petition committee.

Furthermore, the members deliberated on conducting a by-election to fill the vacant offices of the vice president, financial secretary and director of sports to ensure the smooth running of the administration.Honorable Femi representing the linguistics constituency, proposed setting up an ad hoc committee to see to the election. He further gave five guidelines to conduct the election including the members of the committee with the election to be conducted within the space of a week seeing the urgency of filling the offices. Having deliberated and agreed on this, the question is, “How should the election be done?Three options were to be considered after much deliberation:

– Transfer the decision-making power to the Congress

– Conduct an election that involves all members of AFASites 

– Carry out a vote within the FLC.  It was therefore concluded that each Honorable should go back to his or her constituency and ask AFASites what they want since they represent the interest of their departments.The response from these public opinions will be considered in the next sitting.

At the invitation of the treasurer to present the association’s balance,questions arose from the inaccuracies in the total amount presented and the use of correction pen at the signature space. In response Muhammad Okunola , the treasurer explained the president signed the wrong place thus the use of the correction pen and his recent access to receive the association’s balance via email. The house moved a motion that the treasurer be subjected to the investigative and audit committee to provide an official statement of account in the next sitting. 

Proceeding to the Freshmen Week Budget, the social director of the association, Awosemo Praise was called upon. Honorable Femi suggested freshers make the payment of 1000 levy each to suffice for the freshers welcome but this was debated back and forth. Mr speaker, then proposed the social director prepare a budget of two days or preferably a day to reduce cost with a look out for sponsorship which is to be provided in the next sitting.

At the request of the social director on the amount he should work on, different options were made with the conclusion of 300,000 thousand naira irrespective of the number of days for the event and the money accumulated from the tickets should be remitted back to the association’s account.

Lastly to the Any Other Business of the day, the house requested what AFAS ventures meant after a letter requesting for it. In response to this, the speaker proposed an official statement about the refusal of the executive council to respond to the FLC’ s question in the next sitting with all questioning. The house also requested the publicity of the dues of the faculty and the clerk’s official presentation in the next sitting.

The motion for the adjournment of the sitting till further notice was moved by Honourable Gbolahan and seconded by Honourable Raji at 8:49 pm with few Honourable members on seat.