By Akinjide Adebowale
On July 8th, before the dissolution of the 9th Assembly of the UI’SRC, the floor was opened for recommendations by the former speaker, Rt. Hon. Olatoye Eniola. Various issues were raised regarding the upvotes and downpoints of the 9th Assembly and recommendations for the 10th Assembly.
One of the concerns raised came from a representative of Awo Hall constituency, who highlighted the lack of involvement of the SRC in groundbreaking projects. It was observed that the SRC had relegated itself while delegating the sole-responsibility of executing groundbreaking projects to the executives, reducing themselves to the backbench of only rubber-stamping budgets. The representative expressed disappointment, stating that the SRC had tainted its image to the students populace as a body who only engage in never-ending arguments, with little to show in terms of significant achievements.
What is the role of the SRC, anyway?
These were some of the questions posed by Agboola Adedotun, the representative of Renewable Natural Resources. Currently, the student community feels disconnected from the activities of the SRC. It is difficult to find even 100 students who can recall the name of the immediate past speaker; ironically there is hardly a student who cannot identify with Mascot and the recently elected Samuel Samson Tobiloba.
Furthermore, apart from the position of the AGS, all other executive positions in the recent executive elections were hotly contested. This was not the case in the UI’SRC elections in Kenneth Mellanby Hall, where there is a deficit in the number of representatives compared to the slots allotted to the hall.
Recommendations:
Hon. Adedotun further emphasized the low publicity of the SRC’s activities and recommended implementing a structured plan to track the progress of the 10th Assembly. Additionally, he raised the issue of the SRC generating funds for itself. One of his major recommendations was establishing connections with politicians and paying visits to the state house of assembly. This would strengthen the bond between the UI’SRC and mainstream honorable members, thereby providing financial sources for the SRC.
Will Omotunde’s SRC Change the Narrative?
During the plenary session today, the water-logged state of the venue caught the attention of everyone present, honorable members and observers alike. It was impossible to walk between the two rows of chairs without tiptoeing to avoid getting soaked in still waters. This situation reflects the current state of the apex legislature of the student body. How can a body that cannot take care of its own needs adequately address the needs of the students?
However, this does not undermine the 9th assembly in how it has discharged its primary duties, which include frequent deliberations and passing bills. In fact, during today’s plenary session, a First Aid Bill passed its second stage.
Taking all of this into account, this reporter conducted an interview with the speaker to discuss how he plans to implement these significant recommendations.
For starters, Honorable Olamide Liam Omotunde appeared committed to publicizing the activities of the union. He acknowledged the manifesto of the PRO, Adetona Tosin, which aims to disseminate information through the board of PROs in UI. He assured this reporter of his dedication to ensuring that important information from the house gets publicized.
To prioritize capital projects, Hon. Olamide mentioned the establishment of a committee dedicated to identifying projects that can benefit the student body. Throughout the interview, the speaker repeatedly emphasized his commitment to working with the executives. He stated that the future of the SRC chamber will be decided upon by the house and the house secretary.
