A Quick Peep into the plenary session in the FHR: Debates over certain issues in the Constitution.

 


  

By David Adebayo 


On Friday, the 19th of July 2024, during an intense plenary session in the Faculty House of Representatives (FHR), two interesting and important debates over the constitution were raised. These issues are: 

  1. 1. Should we continue with Bye-Elections in appointing Political Executives, given that about 20 FHR members would be the ones to decide for over 700 students within the association? 

  1. 2. The structure of responsibility in the Publication Committee. As provided in the constitution, the Editor-in-Chief (E-in-C) would be the Vice Chairman and the Public Relations Officer (PRO) the Chairman. 

Regarding the first issue, a Bye-Election is an election that happens after the main election to fill a vacant position in the executive, typically decided by representatives from the constituency they represent. However, this alternative means, intended to ensure that a candidate is appointed to a particular vacant position, has a major flaw: it doesn’t fully convey the tenets of democracy. 

Recall that during the last election in FATSSSA, out of the 9 available executive positions, only 4 were chosen by FATSSSAites at large, including the President, Vice President, Public Relations Officer, and Assistant General Secretary. The positions of General Secretary, Social Director, Sport Director, Financial Secretary, and Treasurer were left vacant. 

This situation sparked a discussion led by the Faculty’s Editor-in-Chief, Akinwale Emmanuel, who argued that it isn’t fair for about 20 representatives to decide for over 700 students in the faculty. The students of the FATSSSA community didn’t have a say in the process. If the claim is to represent the interest of students within a constituency, it must be noted that it does not extend to the exercise of franchise. Another view is that if this were the case in a broader sense, then we might as well say that in the appointment or election of other political executives, the representatives should elect or choose, for example, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. 

Lastly, regarding the accountability of these elected ones, since FATSSSAites were not involved directly, are they accountable to the FHR instead? The decision has already been made, and the newly chosen executives are on board. However, moving forward, is a Bye-Election fair enough to fully represent the wishes of the majority? 

For the second issue raised during the plenary session, according to Chapter 3, Article 10, Section (II) h of the constitution, the E-in-C of the faculty must also serve as the Vice Chairman of the publication committee. The Editor-in-Chief suggested that the E-in-C should focus solely on editing the written publications and not hold the position of Vice Chairman. 

These aspects of the constitution need to be reviewed and possibly amended to ensure the administration of the association is effective and free from any hindrances to achieving a successful dispensation. 

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