
By: The Scribe
In the context of every government and organizational establishment lies the trade of checks and balances where one serves as a watch on another so as to ensure an all-round adequacy and competence. As a result of this, it (checks and balances) has been used over time because of the result it produces and how long it has proved to been a measuring rope that connects every parts and segments together in terms of internal assessment. The line is also extended to the press category who are bestowed the role of serving as watch dog which ranges from constructive criticisms, keeping tabs on daily activities, ensuring agendas are being fulfilled and showing the sense of their active presence which gives office holders the idea that they are being watched.
NEED FOR ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY
ASSESA as a body with various arm and section that makes it a whole is not left out in this custom, there live the act of checks and balances within the arms and also the press being as watch dog to ensure they are active as per duties and responsibilities. This brought about the notion in subjecting office holders to scrutiny which thus opens room for accountability of their engagements. For they’ve promised through their manifesto to be diligently serve the entire department and also represent the department well in their tasks and activities. Not only is it of necessary for the press to be aware but for the entire Assesa department being updatedon the present state of the association.
A section tagged “FEEDBACK MEETING” was introduced and organized by Assesa press where executives, legislators (Honorable members of the department in FLC), stakeholders, level representatives and press members were on ground to witness the state of the association to know what has been done, what they are working on and what is left to be done. It was also a section that includes the need for office holders to share any challenge they might be facing which handcuffs their performance. Therefore, in line with their manifestoes as promised, there is need to table their works into limelight so as to foreground accountability and transparency which will also put them on toes in their charge and commitment to their duties.
FEEDBACK MEETING
On a general and all-round note, executive members have shown alarming signs of experience deficiency as a very few percentage possess a foundational expertise in political office roles. But there is always a first for everything but being the first does not connote a bad start, there are room to prepare ahead and learn on the motion. Well, perhaps the administration story would have been more engaging if there were no Asuu strike and constitution amendment confusions which might have affectedthe administration in settling down for the business at hand. In all, there must be the realization that they’ve been charged to this duty and must at every time show the spirit of commitment in carting out their responsibilities.
During the section held at A313 on Friday, March 25th, 2023, the FLC (Faculty Legislative Council) department representatives and executives were subject to accountability where series of highs and lows emerged. In line withthis, the followings were realized.
FLC DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVES
Hon. Ogunmefun Samuel: By his presentation, he claimed not to have moved any motion as promised in his number 3 manifesto which reads “I shall move a motion that will benefit all Assesaites and the whole educators in general.”, he claimed the 4 sittings held by FLC were all on approval of budgets which has handicapped him from moving motions. As this didn’t present an encouraged representation, Hon. Ogumefun is advised to show more dedication and safeguard Assesaites interest as pronounced in his number 1 manifesto – “I shall represent and safeguard the interest of Assesaites in the council”, or else tagged as a figure head honourable.
Hon. Isaac Boluwatife: As an honourable member who was elected through by-election, his manifesto was in veil from press members and the entire department. Hon. Isaac Boluwatife, according to his words, is on the motion of sponsoring a bill that sets to be favourable to the entire faculty. Being the chairman of planning and budget committee at the FLC, he is expected to do much better knowing that it is Assesa first before anything and be in conscious that he is representing Assesaites whose interest is expected of him to have in his mind.
Rt. Hon. IjaiyaAderomola: Absent
EXECUTIVES
Ass. Gen. Secretary – (BuariOmolola): Absent
Public Relations Officer – (AgunloyeAdejumobi): In accordance to her manifesto, she promised to promote the image of the department, support every entrepreneur in the department, share contents through the editorial board and work on uniting and ensuring active participation of all Assesaites. She has so far displayed act of responsibility in carrying out these duties online by keeping Assesaites updated and helping entrepreneur in publicizing and giving advice on the development of such business. As it is was seen that few numbers of Assesaites react to her online broadcast, engaging them physically will further help in reaching out and knowing the minds of Assesaites.
Also, there seem to be a loophole in the birthday shouts out as it was expected that it will be a graphical presentation and not just word content broadcast. It was seen that the lack of graphic designers who will be in position to sacrifice for the department is affecting this, in sense, there is need to be on look out for more hands that will help in aiding this and other events as it concerns the department. There were claims that Assesaites are in some way difficult to serve but as regards dealings with human beings, it is not always expected to be that easy. E-magazine and more physical interactions are expected from her office during the remaining weeks of the semester.
Social Director – (Adebisi Olatomiwa): The office of the social director is one where 70% of the activities is carried out towards the end of the semester as regards the department week, dinner and finalist week. So far, the office in line with constitutional duties and manifesto has been able to organize orientation and picnic for freshers. Currently, the office is working on organizing an excursion trip to three places in Abeokuta for interested Assesaites. Here, it was seen that the opinions of Assesaites was not reached before concluding on the said event which negates the contents of her number 2 manifesto which reads, “I would try and make sure that Assesaites have a say in the events and trips that we will organize”.
Also, the excursion broadcast is said to be lackinglexical details of the three places meant to be visited in Abeokuta. To ensure Assesaites respond and turn up for the event and subsequent ones of such, a survey should be carried out that will serve as a measure that gives a clear picture of what they want. A google form as such has been rolled out a day after the feedback meeting asking Assesaites their opinions on either excursion or a picnic. The social director when asked about preparations towards the end of the session events promised a well packed one and also used the medium to solicit to Assesaites in turning up for their dinner fee. It is as this expected of the Social director to be on look out for sponsorship which will aid in carrying out her financial duties.
Financial Secretary – (Alade Dorcas): Out of her fourplans, two are still left unattended where the two achieved (Availability and Financial Accountability) is expected of her as per constitutional duties. Partnership with banks and organizing seminars on savings and investment are yet to be carried out and are also weakening in terms offeasibility. All through the first semester till this moment, she is yet to make a move in partnering with banks for students in the department. When asked about when to expect it, she showed no sign of urgency.
On savings and investment seminar, this is also yet to be in place and arms are still crossed in expectant. The financial secretary is hereby advised and expected to show a positive sign towards the fulfilment of her promised agendas asfailure of such will amount to being of incompetence in a role she has been politically entrusted to. Also, this will amount to a record of failed promises as such will be heavily frown at through publications of how these plans meant to have been implementedsince first semester failed.
Treasurer – (AgoyeOluwafemi): As of this office, the plans stated according to the manifesto presented are the creation of online payment and receipt of dues, creation of a financial spreadsheet where daily activities of the department’s financial records shall be accounted for, procurement of scholarship and lastly the provision of feasible solution to the association’s financial treasury issues. It is to be agreed that the treasurer is yet to fulfill any of these plans, although the last plan is being hindered by NIN issues, change of account’s phone number and the ongoing cashless policy.
When asked of the failure in discharging the remaining plans, the treasurer claimed to have failed in carrying out these plans as some problems were encountered. It was found that the treasurer failed in carrying out a feasibility study during the process of writing the plans and as such became a failed project as per implementation. The press body will also place a watch on his office in order to ensure part of the plans which can still be carried out are implemented.
General Secretary –(Adetola Oluwatosin): In ensuring an open and accessible secretariat to Assesaites, the General Secretaryhas been discharging this constitutional duty alongside proper documentation of the administrative procedures. As of her number 2 manifesto – Organizing academic summit to foster student/lecturer and alumni intellectual interaction, the department are still in expectant of this and arms are crossed in expectant. According to her, it is expected to come to light towards the end of the semester.
Vice President – (Oshinyemi Promise): In line with her constitutional duties, she has been working together with the PRO in publicizing activities and events of the department (birthday shout outs, events, etc.). The vice president promised to create a suggestion box that will aid Assesaites in expressing their minds on department related issues. This failed as she claimed there is no place around the secretariat to place the suggestion box, as a result of this, she claimed to be working on a google form that will serve in place of the failed suggestion box creation.
In accordance to her number4c manifesto that centered on introducing a Year Book which shall be sponsored, the contents of such will be pictures of events that occurred during the course of the session. Also, under her office, she promised to deliver a well-presented Career day and trade fair during Assesa week.
President – (Adetoun Adepoju): On matters relating to tutorials, due to the vacancy of the post of Academic and Welfare Director, tutorials is said to be lacking as we’ve only experience one tutorial throughout the first semester. The president gave clarifications on the point that there was a late creation of the committee meant to take charge of the office. Part of the plans carried out through this office is the creation of a CGPA calculator and working together with other executives in ensuring a workable administration.
On statistics of students who has paid for dues, about 300+ out of 600+ has paid their dues while a figure as low as less than 30 has paid for dinner. This, according to the president, is due to the optional clause placed on the payment of shirt and dinner. The entire administration are as such charged to physically engage students, encourage them to make payment and also work towards organizing a well-deserved events which Assesaites will be pleased with.















