Ensuring Fair Representation: Honourable Olufemi Discusses the Co-Option Bill

Jolaade Ifeoluwayimika

AFAS press: Could you please introduce yourself?

Honourable Olufemi: My name is Olufemi Inioluwa, an honourable representing Linguistics and African Languages constituency. I am also a member of the Association of Faculty of Arts Legislative Council. 

AFAS press: What inspired your constituency to introduce the co-option bill and what problem does it aim to solve?

Honourable Olufemi: The co-option bill, sponsored by my constituency, was spurred by the fact that it discusses bringing in new honourable members from 100 level. The bill tackles two problems: first , it allows 100 level students to have representations in the FLC and second; it prevents the executive council from co-opting members into the house and this approach draws from the Linguistics Student Association constitution which gives representation of students from 100 level to 400 level and there’s an article that allows 100 level students to be on the executive council as unofficial members. Also, it’s quite absurd for the executive council to have people who are loyal to them in the legislative council because I believe that members of the legislative council come from some constituencies so, if they have any problem, they can relate with their constituency members that are already on the floor of the house and such people can bring it to the house. 

AFAS press: Can you produce a key overview of the provisions and objectives of the bill?

Honourable Olufemi: The bill has two prayers. The first proposes that the FLC be made up of 4 representatives from each department and that the four members representing each department be from different levels. The second prayer proposes that Roman numeral 5 of Article 18 be scrapped from the constitution and that the executive council shall be prevented from co-opting members into the house. 

AFAS press: What are the expected outcomes of the bill if it becomes a law and the advantage it has on the 100 level students?

Honourable Olufemi: First is that it should be noted that the constitution is an advantage to everyone and by amending it, it indicates that that aspect to be amended is a handicap to the students and after amendment, it can continually be an advantage. When that bill is passed, it will afford representation to the 100 level students who are financial members. Everyone pays taxes in Nigeria. Why is it that the 100 level students can pay their dues but can’t be a member of the house? It doesn’t really sit well with me. So, the advantage of this bill is to afford representation to everyone from 100 level to 400 level and we come to the floor of the house to deliberate and make key decisions and everyone will have the opportunity to state their point of view. 

AFAS press: What is your view about the interference of politics in the academic pursuit of the 100 level students as raised by Honourable Akanni during the first sitting?

Honourable Olufemi: As I have said before, I first became an honourable member in my department. I went there because I was interested and going there spurred my interest to go to the FLC in 200 level and back again in 300 level. When I was 200 level, I was a member of my hall’s legislative council so, I don’t think it’s a case of interfering in their academics. It’s not as if sittings are being held all the time and when they are coming in, they won’t be tasked with being chairmen, rather they will just be floor members. These are just to brush them up so that by the time they are coming into 200 level, they already have the experience. This is just to strengthen the house the more. If one observes well, one will notice that most of the time, it is 300 level and 400 level students that comment in the house as the 200 level students barely contribute but I wasn’t like that when I came in in 200 level because I had done it in my department which gave me a prerequisite experience. 

AFAS press: What would be the case if eventually the bill is signed into a law but there are no volunteers from 100 level?

Honourable Olufemi: I doubt if there will be cases of no volunteers. One thing is there are some departments that don’t have any representative from 200 level to 400 level. They have never attended any sitting so, that onus lies on that department not the house. For instance, last session when there was constitution brouhaha, there were people ready to come from 100 level but all we were following erroneously was the amended constitution which allowed 100 level- 400 level students. There were students ready to come but they weren’t sworn in. There will always be volunteers. 

AFAS press: Has there been any criticism about the bill either from other constituencies or from other honourable members and if yes, how has your constituency been responding about criticism about the bill?

Honourable Olufemi: There were criticisms when I presented the bill from Honourable Akanni about the bill affecting the academics of the 100 level students and I believe that I answered the criticism and questions that were raised. The only issue is the call to amend a part which will be done when we have a second reading which should be during the next sitting. This can’t be done by me alone as honourable members have to agree that an amendment be made to these prayers. 

AFAS press: There seems to be a conflict/overlap about 100 level students being elected, how do you resolve it?

Honourable Olufemi: It’s not a conflict. There’s a set law in the constitution and we want to amend it, so I don’t think they are conflicting with each other. 

AFAS press: What are the consequences if this bill is not passed and what alternatives might be explored?

Honourable Olufemi: Really, the issue of allowing the representation of 100 level students doesn’t bear dire conquest if not passed but the consequence involved is the denial of students the right to be represented which I’ll keep standing on. They pay their dues, they are financial members of the association, so why shouldn’t they be given the right to be represented. As I said in the preamble of the bill,“ Representation is given to a constituency delineated within a polity”. It should be looked at from this point of view, there is a 200 level constituency, there is a 300 level constituency, there is a 400 level constituency, which means there is also a 100 level constituency. So, why are we denying them the right to be represented? It’s a critical question for everyone to look at.