Over the past few months, the University of Ibadan has been a hotspot of student-related issues, mostly because of a considerable increase in student fees in an era of excruciatingly rising costs.
In the midst of this student-related crisis, the students are beginning to lose trust in the student union leadership as a force who can do anything tangible or just plan or try to progress the cause of the student body, most especially in fee reduction. There were, however, minuscule signs that might seem to have foretold the future.
The Signs of Seeming Nonchalance
Prior to the election of the current student union executives led by Aweda Bolaji, the student management made a huge increase to the fees of fresh students, which signaled an increase for even the returning students.
Many thought that the individuals contesting for various student union executive positions would see that as a campaign opportunity and would speak towards planning for a resolution to the issue or even the possibility of a plan to help mitigate the increase in fees, but none of the candidates did, including those who contested for the student union presidency.
Following the initial increment in fresh student fees, the student representatives council called for a sitting to discuss the next step. Present at the sitting was the then student union president, Samson Tobiloba, but most of the aspirants of the Union leadership were absent.
This had implicitly suggested that those who would be taking the reins of power might not be too interested or capable of backing the student body in such crucial, complicated, and important issues such as the increment of school fees in the school.
The Congress Saga
On the 24th of June, 2024, the student union publicized a release that notified the student body of a congress that was scheduled for the 29th of June, 2024.
Indicated in the notification was the purpose of the congress, which prominently included the increment of school fees. The notification was signed by the student union president and also the general secretary, Ogundijo Japheth.
However, on the 27th of June, another release was made by the union that announced the indefinite postponement of the congress initially scheduled for Saturday.
This decision was met by resistance from some students and a newfound caucus in the student representative council who named themselves ‘Egbe Majeobaje’ which loosely translates to “Don’t let it get destroyed group” in English. They published a statement moments after the notification of the postponement by the student union body, decrying the postponement of the congress on the stance that the student union executives lack the constitutional power to carry out that action.
In the statement, the group referred to Article XIII, Section 1 of the Constitution, which they claim states that in the absence of the President, Vice President, and even the Speaker, the Congress reserves the power to elect one of its members to preside over it.
The group rejected the call for postponement due to the absence of the president and vice president on the basis of that article of the constitution and still called for students to attend the congress.
However, the notification of postponement did not cite a specific reason for postponement, only that the congress was postponed due to unforeseen circumstances.
Speaking to the press, one of the signatories to the statement by Egbe Majeobaje, Hon. Babatimehin Peace, made it known that, though he did not have hard evidence, the directive for the postponement was due to the absence of the student union president, Aweda Bolaji, due to a trip to Abuja.
“I personally moved the motion for Congress, and in truth, the President raised the matter of his absence on the proposed date for Congress immediately. Well, I do not have hard evidence, but I’ve heard from credible sources that the President is currently in Abuja for a conference that has nothing to do with the matter of the fee hike,” he said.
He further explained that this should, however, not be a deterrent to the holding of the Congress, given that the issue at hand is cogent and needs to be brought urgently to the Congress, and that he could not see any duty that the President should be undertaking that will supersede his allegiance to the Congress of students that elected him in office.
“I am always inclined toward the Union supporting other noble causes, but it should never be at the expense of your responsibility to the people,” he said. “The President should not be in Abuja. He should be in the Kunle Adepeju Building, fulfilling the promise he made to students of the University of Ibadan.”
Hon. Babatimehin said he initially thought the postponement was simply an issue of misplaced priorities and a lack of understanding of the constitution, but he now has reason to believe that it has to do with that and even more, but regardless, the constitution has made provisions for the absence of the president and his vice president in Congress, so the president’s unavailability is constitutionally not a problem.
One student, who prefers to identify as Mayowa for fear of victimization says that he cannot categorize the decision to postpone the congress as either right or wrong, but what he believes is that situations like this should not be happening and that the postponement is very disappointing. He also believes that it shows a lack of organization and trust among the members and leaders of the student union.
“The postponement is very, very disappointing. Days before the congress, we were told that it had been postponed. Is it due to a lack of proper planning, or what exactly? I won’t say the postponement is right or wrong, but they should shed more light on the reason why they had to postpone this,” he said.
He also expressed his disappointment in some of the honorables coming out against the decision of the student union executives, as this shows a lack of synergy.
“With them coming out to say the congress will not hold and that the executives do not have the power to postpone, it’s just too shameful. In a union like that of the University of Ibadan, it is very, very shameful. It shows that there is no sufficient connection between the executives and these SRC members. The executives say something, and you and some other people say something else. That is not okay at all. Their decisions should be based on mutual agreement,” he further explained.
A Lack of Trust in the Student Union
All these issues and the attitude of the student union body concerning these matters have invariably led to a lack of trust in the possibility of the student union body heralding positive change for students in situations like this.
The postponement has caused a lot of distrust in the student union to make decisions or take actions that are capable of bringing positive outcomes to the student body. This distrust is further exacerbated by the supposed item of discussion in Congress, which is the fee hike.
Hon. Babatimehin noted that it is sad and unfortunate that the students are genuinely waiting for directives from the executive committee, and they do not seem to aspire to live up to the responsibility they have been given.
“I have lost every form of confidence in the current President and the cabinet to do anything of their own accord, except, of course, the students themselves see that the President is unready to champion their cause and begin to hold them responsible. The President allegedly being in Abuja at this time only further corroborates the whole matter,” he said when asked to rate his trust in the current student union leadership.
Most students, like Mayowa, that UCJUI spoke with also share the same sentiments – They have lost confidence in the union. This is also because of the student union directive for students not to pay the fees, with the full knowledge that most freshmen would already have paid the fees, and those who would not want to would be forced to do so, taking into consideration the need for a school fee receipt in carrying out various registrations.
“With the current union and the current set of people leading, I don’t think I believe in them. Things are happening, and yet they do not behave as if they have us in mind,” Mayowa said.
He also mentions that, at this point, he does not believe they can fight for the students, and the students should just accept their fate. “Anything the management brings up, you just have to accept it because, at this point, no one is fighting for us.”
Another student who claimed anonymity said she did not expect much from the union leadership because most of them have nothing to offer the student populace, and some just go for these posts simply for their own interests.
“Most people going for positions are not going there because they have something to offer, and though I’m a bit disappointed, I’m not too shocked. I understand the fact that they are students and also have to protect their own interests, which is hilariously their priority as leaders,” she said.
When asked about her trust in the student union leadership, she was quick to note that they do not act like people who can actually support the welfare of students.
“Like I said, they are also students, so their powers are a bit limited to affect something as primary as school fees when the management is determined. But their effort to even try to talk, meet, or negotiate with the management simply shows that they really have [something] to do and that in even less complicated matters, they might have what it takes to project the plight of the students to seek change,” she concluded.
With the current state of things, most students are clearly losing trust in the student union for doing anything tangible to progress and projecting the cause of students to the university management.
By: Ibraheem Fiyinfoluwa
