AN INTERVIEW WITH THE SPEAKER OF THE FACULTY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

By Vivian Nnagboro

PRESSMAN: Good morning madam speaker

OLAJUMOKE: Good morning 

PRESSMAN: My name is Vivian from FATSSSA Press and we would love to have an interview with you

OLAJUMOKE: Okay then

PRESSMAN: Can you tell us about your qualifications and experience that make you suitable for the role of the speaker?

OLAJUMOKE: Okay, so my journey as a legislator began from the very first meeting I had with my coursemates. Initially, I came from my secondary school (The International School Ibadan) as a shy small girl, although I was the health prefect, I was lucky the position didn't require much.

However, during the first class I had with my coursemates, the then-president of the Department of Political Science, Sire Ajayi Tom stepped into our class and requested nominees for our class representative at the FHR after motivating us to be politically active. About 8 of us came out to contest for FHR representative. I don't know how I suddenly overcame my shyness that day because I had to convince my coursemates to vote for me, which I did confidently. Although, I lost to Mayor who later became the Speaker of FHR by a few votes because I was in the second position out of about 8 candidates that didn't stop me from pursuing more. So my journey as a legislator began from there.
That same week, I was elected into the NAPSS Senate (National Association of Political Science Students) where I served actively for two consecutive tenures.
In 300L, I moved to FHR, where I was elected by my coursemates to represent their opinions and they did this because they believed in my antecedence from NAPSS Senate and it's evident in the fact that I contested unopposed.
I later moved to SRC (Student Representative Council) to represent Queen Elizabeth II Hall in my third year as well ( 300L). Where I was an active honourable member speaking and voicing out the opinions of students during sittings.
In my fourth year, I returned to FHR unopposed again, where I contested for the office of the Speaker and here we are...

PRESSMAN: What motivated you to become the speaker of our faculty's association legislature?

OLAJUMOKE: I was motivated by the skills I have gathered over the years from being a student legislator. I have been exposed to a series of leadership training and orientations organized by various organizations and even the school authority and I do not want them to go down the drain without serving them to FATSSSA. And being the Speaker to me, is the best position to serve FATSSSA.

PRESSMAN: In your opinion, what are the most pressing challenges currently facing the faculty, and how do you propose to address them through the association legislature?
OLAJUMOKE: Well, in my opinion, the most pressing challenge is the deplorable state of students' restrooms in the faculty due to a shortage of cleaners. However, the association's legislative arm has already stepped in through the approval of the proposal presented to the floor of the house by the VP who doubles as the chairman of the Sanitation Committee.
Another one is the fee pegged on the collection of transcripts in some departments. This is strange to FATSSSAites and I've had a series of conversations with FATSSSAites complaining bitterly about this new development. I'll propose that the legislative arm address this issue by working together with the executive council to have a meeting with the faculty management and the departments concerned those who pegged the fee at thousands, pleading with them to reduce the fee

PRESSMAN: How do you plan to foster a positive and inclusive environment within the association legislature, where diverse opinions are respected and valued?

OLAJUMOKE: The legislative arm is called the House of Representatives for a reason. And it is because it is an organ where diverse opinions from various constituencies are expressed by honourable members. Each honourable member is expected to speak not for himself but for his constituency members who voted for him and as such opinions of these honourable members ought to be valued and respected.

However, to avoid marginalization of opinions and to ensure a positive and inclusive legislative environment, I as the speaker will ensure that during sittings everyone present is allowed to voice out their opinions, inclusive of honourable members, executive council, members of the press and the L&D and even the congressmen. Constructive arguments will also be encouraged to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings that could create a negative environment, and the standing order as regards legislative proceedings will be upheld because proper implementation of the provisions of the standing order itself will help to create a positive legislative environment.
Also, at the legislative arm, there is something called constituency reports which honourable members have to present to the house, through which they can express their opinions and concerns as well as those of their constituency members thereby extending discussions in the house beyond honourable members but also their constituency members. With that, there'll be an inclusive environment that accommodates and respects diverse opinions

PRESSMAN: What steps will you take to ensure effective communication between the association legislature and the faculty members?

OLAJUMOKE: I think I've mentioned one of them earlier which is constituency reports. It is an effective way of ensuring adequate communication between FHR and FATSSSAites.
Another step is to encourage FATSSSAites to attend FHR legislative sittings because at sittings they have a higher chance of being heard by the organs concerned. There they can voice out their opinions and be certain of proactive response.
Also, when the house is complete we'll be having graphics displaying all members of the FHR so that faculty members can know them and start to reach out to them.

PRESSMAN: Can you describe a situation where you successfully mediated a conflict or disagreement within a legislative setting? How did you handle it?
Well, luckily since we began this new assembly, we have not had conflicts or disagreements on the floor of the house and it's because we have continued to encourage constructive arguments or criticism. During the last sitting, we had just a misunderstanding between the Returning Officer of IFEC and the E in C which I wouldn't term as a conflict or disagreement. Because both parties were allowed to express themselves and having done, the concerned party agreed to her mistake and apologized

PRESSMAN: In a case where a conflict of interest arises, how do you plan on diffusing the situation?

OLAJUMOKE: Alright, then the parties involved will be allowed to express themselves. In the case where such conflict can be resolved by constitutional provisions, then we'll employ the Constitution. However, if it's the kind of conflict that the constitution is silent on, then honourable members will be allowed to share their opinions on the issues surrounding the conflict and give their recommendations, after which I'll also give mine. And of course, my recommendations will be centred on making the parties involved realize their mistake(s) and then proceed to make amends.

PRESSMAN: What strategies would you implement to increase the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the association legislature's operations?

OLAJUMOKE: Currently, I would want to say that the necessary measures for effectiveness in legislative operations in the faculty are already in place. Take for instance, the FHR blog site that is currently working effectively, there is the FHR calendar already, so we know when sittings will hold and when they won't. Very soon, FHR will have a full house as well. So all these things are in place. However just like you've asked how do we increase the efficiency, one of such strategies is proper orientation and training for honourable members. This is very important to the effectiveness of FHR. If its members are not properly trained and orientated on legislative skills, then the House will not be effective. So, orientation and training are paramount to the leadership of FHR and we're currently on it very soon, we'll be having our training and orientation programme as soon as we have a full house

PRESSMAN: Can you provide examples of instances where you have successfully facilitated productive discussions and debates within the association legislature?

OLAJUMOKE: We have had a lot of instances because at every sitting we always have productive debates and most often these debates are around budgets brought to the house. When budgets are brought to the house, we make the floor open to discussions, and as such honourable members will be able to make recommendations and at the end of the day reach a reasonable agreement after which they'll then proceed to moving motions in favour of all FATSSSAites

PRESSMAN: Thank you for your time.