By: Ochi Maduabuchi

The University of Ibadan Students’ Union Executive Council omitted one of the publicly read out resolution, markedly recommended, and decided upon by students at the last congress, INDYPRESS  reports.

The UI’SU release, titled “Resolution of the Congress“, circulated by the Public Relations Officer, Omotayo Olumide, lately on Saturday, 17th August 2024, only mentioned a three-day ultimatum for the general resolve of the lingering fee hike struggle, as well as deflating mounted pressure on students with regards to course registration as demanded by some departments or Faculties, which required school fee receipt.

The resolution however failed to highlight a certain resolution, which was “the suspension of payment portal until the fee hike matter is resolved” as agreed upon or demanded by the Congress.

A video clip motioning the Congress procession, originally shared by UCJ’UI depicts a scene where the Students’ Union President, Aweda Bolaji, openly acknowledged “suspension of payment portal” as one of the agreed resolutions.

(Video depicts UI’SU President acknowledging ‘Suspension of Fee Portal’ as a resolution. Credit: UCJ UI)

Repeated attempts to get an explanation for striking out the resolution has failed as the Students’ Union President, Aweda Bolaji did not respond to IndyPress.

Reacting, Adeosun Silver, a student from the Faculty of Arts decried and described the action of the Executive Council as appalling. He ascribed a future decadence in willingness to attend Congress to unframed disorderly acts like the leadership inaccurate publication of the Congress resolutions.

“The irresponsibility of the Students’ Union in one way or the other is affecting my mental health. Because I don’t think it makes sense when the students populace is begging the Students’ Union to do the right thing. Without the outcry of the students, they should have made this clear to the school management. The last three Congresses we had in this school to me are not productive, I won’t be surprised if people don’t turn up for future Congress. It’s obvious the President of the Union did not have the balls to confront the school management on issues affecting the students. His irresponsibility is as obvious as his arrogance,” Silver said.

Another student, Damilare Samuel, from the Faculty of Social Sciences faulted the leadership of the Students’ Union for deleting what he termed the ‘most important resolution’.

“It is quite unfortunate that the Aweda-led administration took pride in underrepresenting the students. Despite the deliberate action and inactions by the administration to frustrate the struggle against fee hike and quench the momentum that sprang up from the July 16 & 17 protests that happened spontaneously. The administration had the effrontery to struck out one of the most important resolution of the Congress. Although it’s not a new thing in UI, because the previous administration laid the foundation for this obnoxious act. However, we can’t continue like this. We cannot allow this unconstitutional and undemocratic act to become a custom or tradition of our beloved Students Union,” Damilare told IndyPress.