The Faculty of Science Students’ Association (FASSA) Press Night, scheduled for October 27, 2026, faces postponement following the non-disbursement of its approved ₦28,250 budget, despite the Faculty of Science Students’ Representative Council (FSRC) approving the allocation on October 16. The delay has left the press organisation without the funds required for the event on its scheduled date, raising questions about the handling of approved expenditure by the association’s executive leadership.
The budget was submitted by the Editor-in-Chief of the FASSA press organisation, Oluwapamilerin Micheal, on September 8, 2026, and subsequently subjected to deliberation and a reduction in the proposed expenditure. It was approved by the FSRC at 9:42 p.m. on October 16 during the second emergency sitting of the 15th FSRC Assembly, held at the Department of Chemistry, University of Ibadan. The approval was subsequently documented in a resolution dated October 18.
According to the resolution, the approved ₦28,250 allocation covered the printing of 50 score sheets, drinks and snacks, while certificates were to be provided by the executives. However, as of October 27, the funds had not been disbursed, leaving the organisation without the financial backing required to proceed with its preparations as planned.
The delay has raised questions about the process between legislative approval and the release of funds by the association’s executive leadership. Although the FSRC had approved the allocation, the funds remained unavailable on the day the event was scheduled to be held. The reason for the delay had not been communicated to the Editor-in-Chief as of the time of this report.
The situation also brings the financial provisions of the FASSA Constitution, 2023 Amendment, into focus. Article 11, Section 4, Subsection I provides that the Executive Council shall present its annual budget to the house for approval before it becomes valid and operational. It further states that no amount shall be spent from the association’s funds without the required approval.
Subsection III of the same section states that the President shall be directed by the FSRC to effect the disbursement of an operational allocation determined by the house to the Executive Council, FSRC, Press and FASSA Legislative Department following swearing-in and approval of the budget by the FSRC and the Sub-dean.
Article 11, Section 5 also provides that the disbursement of all approved spending must be duly authorised under the signatories of the Sub-dean of Biological Sciences, the FASSA President and the FASSA Treasurer or Financial Secretary. These provisions establish the constitutional framework for approving and authorising expenditure, although the specific circumstances responsible for the delay in releasing the Press Night funds remain unclear.
The constitution further assigns the FSRC financial oversight responsibilities. Article 7, Section 1 empowers the council to scrutinise, modify and approve the association’s budget, without which no money shall be disbursed. It also empowers the council to request the association’s financial statements and investigate alleged misconduct involving members of the Executive Council.
Beyond the Press Night budget, the Faculty of Science Students’ Independent Electoral Commission (FASSIEC) has also yet to receive its budget, according to information available to the press organisation. The development raises further questions about the handling of funds intended for association activities and whether the delays extend beyond the press organisation.
The funding concerns have also become entangled with questions surrounding the FASSA executive screening exercise. The results, released on October 27, showed that only four of the eight aspirants qualified to proceed to the next stage of the electoral process, with the other four disqualified. The highest score was 69%, while the presidential aspirant who failed to qualify scored 47.75%.
The results have raised questions about the preparedness of students seeking executive positions. However, the timing of the screening results is significant: the issue of budget disbursement had arisen before the results were released. This means the delay cannot be attributed solely to the screening outcome, although the results appear to have introduced another point of contention into the funding discussions.
The FASSA President, Wariz Kazeem Alabi, has reportedly expressed reservations about providing funds for a Press Night involving four qualified aspirants, questioning the need for the event under the circumstances. However, he has declined to publicly explain the reasons for the delay in releasing the approved budget. The precise nature of his position and the considerations informing it remain unclear.
In a related development, Alabi reportedly offered to provide money to the association but was unable to make the funds available. The circumstances surrounding the offer and the reason the money could not be obtained have not been publicly explained. Consequently, the press organisation remains without the funds required for its scheduled event.
The situation places the Press Night in uncertainty, with the scheduled date arriving before the disbursement was completed. It also raises a broader question about whether disagreements over the electoral process should affect the implementation of an already approved budget. While the president’s reservations regarding the screening outcome may form part of the wider discussion, the budget disbursement issue predates the release of the results and requires a separate explanation.
The delay highlights the distinction between approving an allocation and making the funds available for their intended purpose. Budget approval establishes the authority to spend within an agreed allocation, but timely disbursement remains essential for organisers to make the necessary arrangements and execute approved programmes.
As of the time of filing this report, the reason for the non-disbursement of the Press Night budget had not been established, and no explanation had been communicated to the Editor-in-Chief. Responses from the FASSA President, the Financial Secretary and the FSRC leadership would help clarify whether administrative requirements remained outstanding, whether the screening results influenced subsequent funding decisions, and where the disbursement process had stalled.
The immediate concern remains whether the funds will be released and whether the Press Night will proceed or be rescheduled. The situation also underscores the importance of communication, financial accountability and coordination between the bodies responsible for approving association expenditure and those responsible for its disbursement. For the press organisation, the question is no longer simply whether its budget was approved, but why the approved allocation remained unavailable on the day the event was scheduled to be held.
Editor’s Note: This is a story republished on behalf of FASSA press. Find the original story here.
