Exclusive Interview: “The Amended Constitution is not Recognized by Faculty Management”— AFAS FLC Speaker, Rt. Hon. Miqdad Olajide

As the new semester begins, with many political intrigues playing out in the association’s political sphere, the Speaker of the Faculty Legislative Council speak to AFAS Press on matters arising and plans for the semester.

A lot of issues transpired at the first semester, and some have lingered on till now. What would you say about these issues?

The first semester was truly a lot considering many factors. Just like you have said, a lot of issues happened and linger on till now. I won’t describe it as anything out of the blue, having issues is part of life , so is dealing with them. Regarding the reasons, I am afraid you will need to be more specific about what you need info on. Just like you have said, a lot of things have happened so to categorically state reasons without being specific might not be explicit enough.

I’m putting issues like the lack of a full executive council, and the back and forth on the office of the welfare director that has remained unsolved till second semester into context. How would you describe this and what would you say are the reasons why they have persisted?

To respond to the lack of a full executive council, I believe we all know this is an issue that didn’t originate from this academic session, the election to fill in the posts in AFAS was conducted last session, however, due to nobody showing interest in the position of VP, Financial Secretary and Director of Sports, the posts remain vacant.  The FLC has since responded to the issue by working towards the creation of an electoral college for the bye-election and I can assure that it would have been done had it not been for a constitutional article, Article 13 of the AFAS constitution to be specific. This part of the constitution saddled the CPS with the duty of conducting bye-election and it would have been so but the Faculty management rejected the existence of the CPS, thus leading to the house working towards how to form an electoral college for the bye-election and we were able to do that, sadly, series of protests and the unforeseen three -week break couldn’t allow us hold the bye-election last semester.

Regarding the issue of the Welfare Director,  it’s quite similar. Movements also impeded the growth of it. Hon. Peculiar from Religious Studies constituency had sponsored a bill since last semester but due to the protests and the unforeseen three -week break which was met with examinations didn’t allow us as well. However, we have made a very important progress, the bill is now at the committee stage.

Has these challenges affected the implementation of intended plans by the FLC or would you say the FLC has been able to achieve its intended plans despite the challenges?

Challenges are things every organisation should expect. The FLC isn’t of the vague assumption that it won’t be met with challenges, so I will not really say the challenges have affected the intended plans by the FLC, with  or without the challenges, the FLC remains firm and dedicated towards achieving its legislative goals and functions.

Has the FLC been able to achieve its intended plans despite the challenges?  The answer to this is simple: The FLC is achieving its plan and continues to  achieve it. To say we have achieved our plans is to say there is nothing else to do, so we are achieving our plans and will continue to do so by God’s grace.

What are some of the plans that the FLC has achieved and what are the plans from the FLC for the second semester?

Thank you very much. The FLC as the legislative arm of the association has important and compulsory legislative functions to perform. The FLC has swiftly responded to discrepancies in our constitution. Some of them include:

– A bill sponsored to  remove the CPS rejected by the Faculty management.

– The creation of the electoral college for bye-election.

– A bill to officially have a constitutionally recognised body for bye-election.

– A bill to see to the issue of Director of Welfare services.

– A joint legislative summit with NUESA FLC. Past speakers from the two faculties and the Students Union were present.The summit theme is Campus to Capitol (student-led innovations and legislation for the future )

– An orientation programme (Legislative process: Practice and Process)

Above are a number of them.

For the  second semester, to move things forward and instil the spirit of dedication and legislative motivation in Honourables, the leadership of the House is planning a  courtesy visitation to the Oyo State House of Assembly. The House is also working towards streaming the plenary sessions. The Plenary Sessions will be live for AFASites to join. The first of its kind. (I hope so).

Contrary to the tension raised by the events that transpired at the beginning of the session, the FLC has been able to maintain a peaceful co-existence with the executive. How have you been able to do this?

It is important for us to know that the FLC is not interested in playing hanky-panky with the executive council. The FLC is under an oath to engage in activities for the betterment of AFAS only and that has helped us to maintain a peaceful co-existence since we are focused on our duties and we are not interested in unnecessarily prying into the affairs of the Executive council just like we do not want them doing the same. We simply work towards our basic legislative function such as upholding the law,  dealing with discrepancies in the constitution amidst other things.

Now how would you rate members of the house? In terms of their commitment, attendance and activeness in committees?

To be honest, the participation of honourables is quite low and glaring to all. Pressmen and Observers present would have obviously seen and noticed that. The attendance and active participation is below par.

The House did not take the low participation as an excuse, we are still able to  do meaningful things and contributions through committees of the House such as the Audit and Finance, Investigative Probe Panel, Media and Publicity and Ethics and Privileges.

In all, the House needs a higher level of attendance and active participation to enable us fast track the smooth running of the affairs of the House.

The issue of the constitution is something that will continue to linger around for a long time unless the stakeholders come together to iron it out. The current constitution, for obvious reasons, is out of touch with realities, and the amended one has not been approved? What do you think can be done and what are your plans concerning the issue as the Association’s Speaker?

Thank you very much for the question. The amended one has not been approved or let say it is not recognised by the faculty management.  This has obviously led to a number of issues which are not the fault of the FLC. The FLC did not see this as an excuse however, we continuously tried to make some reforms to the constitution to make it suitable with the current trends of everything. Despite the amended constitution not approved, the FLC has worked towards the reform of some of the articles. As the Speaker of the House, I am very dedicated towards this issue . I will work towards having a meeting to iron things out. The FLC will try its best but we must know that the powers of the FLC are still subjected to the decision of the faculty management.

Is the FLC under your leadership committed to making efforts to ensure that the issues arising from electoral activities will be avoided through adherence to the stipulation of the constitution?

Yes. By following the stance of the Faculty management on the constitution to use Everything shall be done within constitutional jurisdiction.