FeesMustFall: Uites Petition UISU as SRC Issues Ultimatum for President to Call Congress

Students of the University of Ibadan have written a petition against the leadership of the University of Ibadan Student’s Union on Tuesday for their refusal to call for a congress despite the receipt of constitutionally required signatories.

The letter of petition signed by eight students and copies to the students’ union executive council, the Students Representative Council, the Union of Campus journalists and other bodies was written over the “failure of the student’s union to call for a congress.”

“We, students of the University of Ibadan hereby write to petition the University of Ibadan Students’ Union leadership for its refusal to respond to the request for a general meeting of the Students’ Union, University of Ibadan.

Hinged on the need to re-evaluate the general outcome of the July 16 and 17 protests, especially as it relates to the increment in school fees and victimization of the UI’SDC3, among other things, a letter demanding for Congress with over 250 signatories, as provided in Article thirteen of the Students’ Union Constitution was acknowledged by the Students’ Union on the 25th of July, 2024. However, the Students’ Union has flagrantly refused to heed the call for Congress despite students highlighting the urgency of the matter.”

“We find this refusal unconstitutional and unbecoming of people who are purportedly representing the interests of students. Against this backdrop, we strongly demand that the University of Ibadan Students’ Union leadership calls for Congress to re-evaluate the general outcome of the July 16 and 17 protests.

At the expiration of a three working days’ultimatum, which will lapse on Friday, 2nd of August, 2024, further refusal to heed this call would have us resolve to peaceful demonstrations at the Kunle Adepeju Memorial Students’ Union Building to press home our rightful demand for a Congress,” the petition reads.

According to reports made by the Union of Campus Journalists on Tuesday evening, the president of the Students’ Union, Aweda Bolaji, while speaking to the press in an interview has claimed that the congress will hold soonest.

Also, a memo from the SRC to the President on Wednesday evening disclosed that the SRC has issued a 3 days ultimatum for the executive council to call for the congress. 

“It has come to the attention of the University of Ibadan Student’s Union Students Representative Council that a notice calling for Congress has been validated by signatures of two hundred and fifty (250) students of the University of Ibadan.

“We acknowledged that the signatures require verification, the Council hereby gives the President of the University of Ibadan Students’ Union a three days ultimatum, which will lapse on Friday, 2nd August 2024, to convene the Congress upon verification of the signatures to avoid the breach of “Congress shall be summoned by the Chairman on the approval of the Council. The President, on the receipt of 250 signatories of the students, shall direct the General Secretary to summon the Congress.” – Article XIII(2), University of Ibadan Students’ Union Constitution,” the memo reads.