Bill to Scrap CPS Moves to Second Reading
Oluwatosin Adeoye
Honourable Lawal Abdul-Qayyum, member FLC, representing the English Constituency presented to the AFAS Faculty Legislative Council a bill long titled “Bill for the amendment of Article 13 of the Constitution: Council of Presidents and Secretaries, to expel Article 13: Council of Presidents and Secretaries, to rename Article 13” at her 4th Plenary Sitting held on Friday, 23rd August, 2024.
According to Hon. Lawal the bill seeks to amend Chapter Three (2) Article Thirteen (13) of the Constitution of the Association of Faculty of Arts Students. The motion for adoption of the bill for first reading was moved by Hon. Raji Noah seconded by Hon. Olufemi.
In the Explanatory Memorandum, Article 13, number vii vested the CPS with the “power to conduct bye-election to any vacancy in the Executive Council not later than two weeks after such position has been declared vacant by the FLC.” But “the management of the faculty has, however, rejected the existence of any such thing as the CPS.”
“This bill seeks not only to scrap the CPS but also to proffer a solution to some problems arising from the rejection of the CPS by the Faculty management.” One of such issues is the issue of conducting bye-elections which constitutionally falls under one of the duties of the CPS.
The objective of the bill as stated in its Prayer One includes, dissolving of the CPS, renaming the Article 13 of the Constitution, transferring of the duties of the CPS in Roman figure vii, Article 13, establishing a body for conducting bye-elections, establishing an electoral college for conducting bye elections, giving some procedures for conducting bye-elections.
The Prayer Two mentioned that Article 13 should be renamed “Bye-Elections: Electoral College and Bye-Election Procedures”. Prayer Three on the Disposition of Electoral College for Bye-Elections stated that the electoral college shall comprise 15 members, two FLC members and a press member, adding that one of the FLC representatives must be a member of the Investigative Probe Panel Committee, with a clause that the Two (2) FLC members are to perform oversight functions not partaking in electoral activities such as screening and voting.
After intellectual deliberations on the provisions of the bill, it was noted that the modalities of inauguration of the electoral college was not stated, Hon. Lawal was saddled with the responsibility to include it before the second reading. The bill was however passed for second reading after the motion for adoption of the bill for second reading was moved by Hon. Gbolahan seconded by Hon. Thomas.
