Uncovering the Variables Around Delayed AFAS Package Distribution 

Agnes Oyedokun

Over the years, there has been a pattern in the package distribution in the Faculty of Arts, with each administration providing a plethora of excuses to justify the delays. These delays have become a frustrating tradition, affecting the majority of students who often end up not receiving their packages at all. Despite promises of improvement, the cycle seems to persist unabated.

There was a noticeable shift in the immediate past administration headed by Olaniyi Esther popularly known as Ayanfe. The administration managed to maintain a relatively peaceful atmosphere compared to previous years. This calm gave students a glimmer of hope that perhaps the chronic issue of delayed packages would also be dealt with. However, this optimism was short-lived.

As the new academic session began, the familiar pattern of delays resurfaced. Students in the Faculty of Arts found themselves once again waiting indefinitely for their packages, only to be met with the same old excuses from the current administration. The reasons ranged from delay from the contractor. Increase in the prices of things, to insufficient quantity of books, mirroring the justifications of their predecessors.

While the immediate past administration offered a brief respite from the usual chaos, the underlying issues remain unresolved. There is the continuation of this unfortunate tradition. It remains to be seen whether future administrations will be able to break this cycle and restore faith in the package distribution process.

The issue of delayed package distribution in the Faculty of Arts is not a recent development. For some years, each new administration has struggled with this persistent problem, leaving students increasingly frustrated and annoyed. During the 2020/2021 session, there were rumours that the administration provided only a book as the package, which was not even made available to all students because the funds intended for the packages were allegedly redirected towards a lavish dinner event, causing an uproar among the student body. This incident highlighted a glaring mismanagement of resources and priorities.

The situation did not improve in the following academic year. The 2021/2022 administration faced severe backlash when it became evident that they had not procured enough packages to meet the demand. The packages ran out quickly, leaving many students without the bucket which was the package and even the book. Promises were made to assure students that additional packages would be purchased, but they might be fulfilled tomorrow. This failure to deliver only deepened the mistrust between the students and the faculty’s student leadership.

The frustration is particularly more among students in their final year. There are instances of 400-level students who have never received any packages since their first year. These students, who have patiently waited and hoped for a resolution, now face the end of their university journey with a sense of betrayal. “It’s sad to think that in three years, the administration couldn’t get it right with this package thing,” laments *Hope, a final-year student. “We have been disappointed many times, and it feels like the executives don’t care about us.”

In an interview with the current president, Adeniyi Olamilekan known as Mojuba, some light was shed on the ongoing issues with package distribution. According to the president, the first problem lies in the insufficient number of books purchased by the immediate past administration. “The issue with the package is that they didn’t get enough books. 825 students paid their basic dues for the last session, but only 600 books were purchased by the immediate past administration,” he explained. To address this shortfall, the current administration plans to submit a supplementary budget to the House, requesting funds to purchase the remaining 225 books, or at the very least, 200 more books. However, questions arise about what will happen to the remaining 25 students if only 200 books are approved and whether they will be left without any package.

The situation with the tote bags, the other part of the package, further complicates matters. The president elaborated on the arrangement with the contractor, Olaitan Iyanuoluwa’Labake’, who is from the Department of Linguistics. “The agreement she signed with the past president was for her to deliver 300 bags at the end of last session and the remaining 300 bags in the second week of this new academic session. I called her in the second week, and she appealed for an extension until the third week because her team members were not around which I found untenable. However, since then, she has not been picking up my calls. We wrote to the house and also the investigative chairman, Hon. Yeboah Daniel because they were aware when the contract was given to her. When we wrote, the House said they had no time for that.” he said, expressing his frustration with the delays.

In a follow-up with the contractor, Labake provided additional information about the delay. “The plan was for me to deliver 300 bags at the end of last session and the remaining 300 bags in the second week. In the second week, I asked for more time until the third week but encountered some delays. The initial problem I faced was a hike in the price of materials needed to make the bags.  Ayanfe called me and gave me until Friday to submit the bags. I will deliver them by Friday,” she assured. This explanation highlights the logistical and financial challenges that have hindered the timely delivery of the tote bags.

These delays and logistical challenges have placed the current administration in a difficult position, as they strive to fulfill the promises made to the students. The proposed supplementary budget is a crucial step in addressing the shortfall in books, but it is not without its complications. If only 200 books are approved, the administration will need to find a solution for the 25 students who may be left without their books. Additionally, the fate of the tote bags for the remaining 225 students hangs in the balance, because there seems to be no plan for them.

As the administration awaits the decision on the supplementary budget and the delivery of the tote bags, the pressure mounts. The president and his team must navigate these challenges and ensure that all students receive their promised packages. The outcome of these efforts will be a test of their ability to manage and resolve the long-standing issues that have plagued package distribution in the Faculty of Arts.

The immediate past president, Olaniyi Esther, provided insights into the package distribution issues. According to her, the agreement with the contractor was clear: 300 tote bags were to be delivered before the end of the session, and another 300 in the second week of the new academic session. However, the contractor took three months instead of one to deliver the first 280 bags. “The agreement in the memorandum was for her to deliver 300 bags in a month, but she spent three months to deliver 280 tote bags and promised to deliver 320 in the second week of resumption,” she explained. The delay was unacceptable, and she emphasized that the contractor was not forced into the job. “I already called her to tell her that she has till this Friday to deliver those bags, and if she does not do so, she’ll have to bear the consequences,” she added.

Regarding the books, the past president noted that they had received funds for 650 students. They had an arrangement with the printer that allowed for the possibility of printing additional books at the same price if needed. “We had an agreement with the man that printed the books that we might still come to print more books, and in the deed of agreement, he agreed that he might print the books for the same price he printed the first batch,” she explained. She also informed the House that additional funds might be required if more students paid their dues. 

Photo Credit: Barron’s