Clarion Call on Student’s Legislative: AFAS FLC Honourables in Perspective 

Oluwatayo Ogundare

Whatever is worth doing at all, is worth doing well.” Those words were penned by Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield, in a letter to his son back in 1774. The reason why this profound statement will be coming to the fore of discourse in the Association of Faculty of Arts Students (AFAS) in the year 2024 is due to the conduct of some honorable members of the Faculty Legislative Council.

In a democratic society, the legislature, just like the other arms of government, is needed for its utmost importance in the proper running of the society. It is the arm of government that makes and amend the law for the society. The legislative arm of government also seeks to regulate the power of the executives in the form of checks and balances to ensure proper running of government and to prevent abuse of power. In light of these, legislatures of the country are deemed fit to act in the best approach while taking into consideration the expectations from the citizens of their constituencies and the society at large.

In the faculty of Arts, University of Ibadan, the Faculty Legislative Council(FLC) is the legislative arm of government that sees to the making and amending of bills, checking and balancing the affairs, probing defaulting individuals, among others. All these are supposedly done in the confines of the constitution of the faculty. Honourables from each constituency are either appointed or elected depending on the mode of selection and they’re expected to act in the best interest of their constituencies and the faculty at large. This underscores the need for due diligence and uprightness of the honorable members when carrying out their duties.

However, it seems some of these honourable members do not hold themselves in this regard. This is expressed through their lackadaisical attitudes towards attending sittings and performing their due diligence. The first sitting of the FLC in the second semester is the perfect example of the “I don’t care” attitude deep-rooted in the honourable members. The sitting didn’t commence until about twenty-five (25) minutes past the stipulated time with no more than twelve(12) honourable members starting the sitting out of about thirty-three(30) expected members excluding those on field trips.. This shows the level of the high-handedness of the affairs of AFASites and their relative importance in the hands of these honourable members . This can be likened to the similar issue facing the University of Ibadan Students Representative Council (UI’ SRC) that is riddled with absenteeism and sheer lack of diligence towards official duties. It should be noted that the FLC is not an avenue for members to be idle and ignore the helms of affairs to the less hardworking honourable members. The FLC is also not a platform for members to decorate their certificate and award cabinets or an avenue to get a three-paged curriculum vitae because this has been the regular pattern of some members. They are seen to be idle all through the session when it’s time for dinner and award night, they’ll be among the first to be seen flaunting their underserved certificates and awards.

Furthermore, it should be remembered that the resumption date from the university calendar for this second semester is November 4th and students have been expected to resume before or not later than the date considering the examination schedule in the faculty. It is hoped that the honourable members, just like the way they amend bills, amend their ways and contribute passionately to the effectiveness of the Faculty Legislative Council. Stringent punishment like fines and recall from constituencies should be melted out on undeserved members of the house.

Honourable members should ensure they are honourable in their doings and uphold the trust placed in them by members of their constituencies and the faculty at large. Honourable members should thrive to ensure that the system works because a failed society is an implication of a failed system. It is also important to acknowledge the efforts of honourable members who have been up and doing their responsibilities. You’re the real hero.