Of Due Payment and the Surrounding Intricacies
Abdullateef Isa
The delay in payment of faculty dues is a worrisome issue in the Association of Faculty of Arts Students (AFAS). Speaking at the town hall meeting of 21st November, 2024, AFAS President, Olamilekan Adeniyi Mojuba, remarked that only about five hundred and fifty-seven AFASites have paid their dues, then. Despite the importance of these dues in the smooth operations of the AFAS secretariat and organisation of events, among others, many students are indifferent to its payment, and if not for its compulsory nature, would have shelved it. This issue bears similarities with the issue of tax payment by citizens in Nigeria, where citizens often find ways to sabotage the tax payment system.
One of the primary reasons for the delay in payment of faculty dues by students is the lack of awareness and perceived value. Some students are unaware of the dues, and even some that are aware fail to see the direct benefits of their dues, leading to an attitude of indifference towards the payment of the dues. Joshua Obisesan, a student of Communication and Language Arts, corroborated this reason by saying, “If students feel that the services or benefits provided by the dues are not valuable or relevant to their academic experience, they might not see the point in paying”.
Another reason for the delay in payment of faculty dues is the absence of effective communication and transparency. Students often complain about the lack of clarity regarding the expenditure of faculty dues, leading to mistrust, conjecture, and nonchalant attitude towards payment. Ebenezer Adeyefa, a student of English Language, remarked; “Many students feel disconnected from how dues are utilized. They may perceive that their contributions have no tangible impact on their academic or social experience within the faculty or association”.
Additionally, the delay in payment of faculty dues can be attributed to the inability or difficulty in getting the session’s package. Many students cited the challenges they always encounter when trying to get the package as a reason for their unconcerned attitude towards the due. Sidiq, a student of English Language, recounted his unpleasant experience when trying to obtain the previous session’s package. “The stress in getting the session’s package is too much. The executives often keep postponing the distribution”; he said.
Furthermore, the kind of events organised by the association contributes a lot to the delay in payment of faculty dues. Some students observed that the faculty executives pay more premium on social events more than it does for other events; and students who do not have flair for such events often feel like they are disconnected from the faculty activities. This feeling do result in them delaying payment of dues. Even sometimes, students who are in love with the kind of events the faculty organises do express concern about poor engagement. They often feel like the faculty is not carrying them along.
To address these issues, the executives must take proactive steps to educate and engage students. They must clearly communicate the benefits of payment of faculty dues, make clarifications about the expenditure of the dues, carry students along when trying to plan and implement events, organise events that align with the interests and preferences of students, always go the majority way, and consider the voice of the minority.
In conclusion, it should be noted that by addressing the underlying reasons for the delay in payment of faculty dues, students will be more committed to the prompt payment of the faculty dues, and this will ultimately lead to the smooth operations of the association.
