FATSSSA Press Interview with the Constitutional Review Chairman, Mr. Olayiwola Idris Alao

 

Glorious Olajire: Good afternoon, Sir, Please introduce yourself.

Mr. Olayiwola Idris Alao: My name is Olayiwola Idris Alao, 400 level psychology, the chairman of the faculty’s constitutional review committee.

Glorious Olajire: There have been rumours flying around about CGPA and FATSSSA President and an amendment to the constitution about the criteria for FATSSSA President, is there any truth to that?

Glorious Olajire: Can you mention the representatives in the committee?

Mr. Olayiwola Idris Alao: From the house we have, Honourable Samuel-, Faiz, Deji- all active members.

From the executive, the AGS, Babatunde is not very present but joined us at the last meeting. Tawakalitu also was not present, but she attended the last meeting, which was the first she attended.

From the press, Samuel – 400 level psychology, was present for online meetings, but the physical meetings seem to be clashing with the time he has to meet his supervisor.

Glorious Olajire: What specific things are you looking at as a committee?

Mr. Olayiwola Idris Alao: We are looking at IFEC, there should be continuation, the IFEC members have been inaugurated and the chairman has one week to train its members. I am the chairman of my department’s electoral commitee; I know the work he has at hand.  There should be a process for recruitment. FATSSSA needs to step up.

Mr. Olayiwola Idris Alao: On the issue of CGPA, it should be looked at by IFEC, nothing in the constitution pinpoints a particular CGPA. The reason for that is that IFEC is an independent body. As chairman of the review committee, it is not my function to insert that into constitution.

Glorious Olajire:  What conditions would make you add it?

Mr. Olayiwola Idris Alao: If IFEC comes with their provisions to the house, the honourable members would have to agree on the CGPA. So, for the review committee to choose a particular CGPA…. The committee makes a suggestion and brings it to the congress. This particular committee is not looking at that provision. IFEC determines these things. If anyone has any concerns, they should make them known to the house. After the consensus is reached house, the faculty still has to approve it. I am the chairman of my department’s electoral committee, psychology, my committee set CGPA as a requirement, but the house still has to reach a consensus.

Glorious Olajire:  In the sitting you mentioned that the President contacted you to give recommendations for the constitutional review. Please elaborate on that?

Mr. Olayiwola Idris Alao: For every organ, there is a structure. The pattern is that I am the chairman of the committee, I and the president are faculty course mates, I and the speaker are friends, but outside that responsibility, there is not relationship that exists within me and the president, that is why the constitution provided that every organ in the faculty has a representative in the faculty. If the head like the E in C has concerns about the constitution, he should send it though the representative. The same goes for the executive and the house members. It is unethical that the president or E in C contacts me for a provision in the constitution. That is why I asked this afternoon for some power to remove unactive people.

Glorious Olajire: Concerning the disbursement of the constitution, it is under your jurisdiction, is there a plan for that yet?

Mr. Olayiwola Idris Alao: Yes, there is a plan. A close rapport with the press is also very important in this regard. The first place is the congress. Majority of FATSSSAITES have to be present at the congress for it to hold. If majority are present this means that majority of FATSSSAITES are aware of the constitutional changes. The press would also be present. As these changes are going on the soft copy would be sent to each level as frequent as possible. Although political apathy in FATSSSA may lead to FATSSSAITES not downloading the soft copy. Apart from the soft copy, I still want to make a recommendation to the house that, every new session, either stalite or fresher, there should be a stipend paid by students, maybe 300 naira. The constitution should be a requirement to be given to every FATSSSAITES. Maybe one day, you may want to check what’s happening, and it will increase the level of participation.

Glorious Olajire: How will you measure your success?

Mr. Olayiwola Idris Alao: The goals cannot be measured immediately; the goal is that the constitution has been reviewed. The success does not depend on the present committee, executive or house members, but those executive and house members that come after, how they use these recommendations. What do FATSSAITES think about it, those that would review it in the coming times, what would they say about it. Some people have reviewed constitution and we are cutting down the errors, we are trying to adapt to the situation on ground, like the press 3%, the L &D 2%.

 

Glorious Olajire: Thank you very much for your time.