AJADI ISAAC, FOSSU SENATE PRESIDENT SPEECH AT THE FIRST VIRTUAL SENATE MEETING

FEDERATION OF OYO STATE STUDENTS’ UNION (FOSSU). NATIONAL SENATE COUNCIL.

Being the communique of the Senate virtual meeting held on 8th January, 2021. On FOSSU National Senate platform at exactly 8:00pm prompt.

The meeting was presided by the FOSSU National Senate President, Senator Ajadi Isaac Olawasegun,

After which, the motion for commencement of the meeting was raised by Senator Adediran Kazeem Adisa from College of Agriculture, Igbo-Ora and seconded by Senator Decorum from Osun State College of Education, Senator Olayiwola Adeola from EKSU and Senator Hormones from College of Education Ilemona took us through the opening prayer.

Agenda of the meeting was highlighted by the Senate President and in a jiffy time was massively welcomed and adopted by the Senators. The agenda, being adopted, gave the house full insight to the deliberation of the meeting, which forthwith, led to the introduction of principal officials. As the custom, Senate President led with introduction while others were as well followed.

The Subsequent agenda on the list was Welcome Address by the Senate President which was done accordingly. Here, the Senate President gladly welcomed the Senators to the meeting with complimentary greetings, the meeting which was regarded to as an epoch making event in the history of the union.

The Senate President on his speech reiterated on the havoc which the global health pandemic (Covid-19) has caused in every sectors over the months and hereby hindered the development of the country and at the same time cost the union a lot of proposed program. Nevertheless, Ajadi admitted and reiterated the fact that the virus had come as a blessing in disguise as it enabled implementations of digitalised tools to carry out tasks in every sectors, which this epoch making Senate virtual meeting is also inevitable.

Although, being tough and rough, Mr President was able to enumerate the journey of the union since the assumption of office. “ the journey so far has been tough and rough, we’re not discouraged with it’s toughness and how rough it has been” the Senate President reiterated.

The House was briefed on what the achievement so far in various aspects, including Legislative assignments, programmes, lectures and interviews granted to mention but few. Conduction of the inaugural sitting which recorded the highest number of senators in the history of FOSSU National, Observing the plenary of Oyo State House of Assembly and a round table meeting with the members of Oyo State House of Assembly, the second sittings at the western hall of the assembly, the third sitting at NAOS National Secretariat, Oyo. The few mentioned are part of the Legislative assignments bestowed and was able to accomplished.

On the program held, Mr President made it known, the assorted programmes the union was able to hold despite the global health challenge of the pandemic in the nooks and crannies of the country. “this honourable house, despite the pandemic challenges, has been able to achieve the above legislative programmes, hence, conveyed Security Summit in conjunction with the Executive arm of the union, had a vocational and entrepreneurship program for the members and youths in Oyo, Several virtual capacity building programs held during the lockdown to bring about covid-19 awareness to all and sundry”. Mr President stated.

Several lectures by the principal officials in different schools cannot be overemphasized, schools such as USMANU DANFODIYO University, SOKOTO. Mapoly, Abeokuta, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife to metion a few.

Interview on local radios and television stations, as one of the major instruments to determine how performance an organization is and the state of such organization along with check and balances of such organization, has been severally granted to highlight the status of the union.

On bursary, as a union known for the responsibility of speaking truth to the power, Senate President revealed the efforts that has been made so far to ensure the state government hearkens to students voice and ensures every individuals enjoy the dividends of democracy. Here, he reverted every discussion on bursary matters to the Executive President to brief the union more on the status of the bursary.

The subsequent agenda was the State of The Union which was anchored by the Executive President, Comrade Muritala Azeez Olowoeko, where he solidarily greeted the Senators with a brief introduction and precipitously swift into the task given. He categorically slated his discuss into four part which are the state of the bursary, efforts of FOSSU towards resuscitating the Zonal Chapters, Amotekun Saga and others.

Olowoeko expressed his displeasure towards the nonchalant attitude of the state government on bursary matters as the government shows no readiness regarding the modalities of which the bursary will be paid. The method whereby the government laid which is data collation is said to be time consuming, ASUU strike, being the major excuse every Chapters has been given, but nevertheless, the union is having a better turn up on the collation of the said data. Also, he noted that the scholarship board has been contacted for the list of the school that have met up with the data submission to be publicized in order to draw the line for the schools that are not yet submitted the data. “We have contacted the scholarship board to send the names of the school that have met up so that we can published them out and work on those that are yet to within a time frame. Next week by His grace, the list will be out. I have met with the newly appointed Chairman of the scholarship board and he expressed the optimism for the payment even though it is obvious only the Governor can give such assurance.” Olowoeko reiterated.

The Executive President made it known that he previously had a brief meeting with the Executive Governor where the issue affecting the union was briefly discussed and promise was made by the Governor of an appointment for a large house interactive session.

On his own part Olowoeko concluded that the disbursement of bursary cannot be implemented by a mere word rather, the government readiness towards the course and the persistency of the union on the matter at hand.

“As regard our Zonal Chapters, as it has reflected in our manifesto to ensure all zones are active. The crisis rocking Federation of Ogbomosho and Oke Ogun Students' Unions have been resolved through the intervention of our FOSSU officials at the two zones respectively” this statement from the Executive President explained the effort of the union in ensuring the activeness of all Zonal Chapters under the auspices of the FOSSU NATIONAL COUNCIL.

On Amotekun Saga, Mr President affirmed his awareness of the several brutality cases and misusage of power by the so called newly initiated Western Nigeria Security Network, codenamed, (Operation Amotekun) on the members of the union and the citizens at large. Decision has thereby been taken and appropriate quarters have been notified of their activities including the Commissioner of Police, DSS and the State government for their nebulous and unwarranted activities. Olowoeko later assured the house that the situation is now under control.

Furthermore, Mr President also stated the havoc which the pandemic virus had caused which hindered most of the activities of the union, Nonetheless, the union still able to overcome the plight and fully back to the status quo.

The report from both Presidents was absolutely commended, recommendation and observation were made to fast track the effective development of the union.

On the Constitution Review.

The Senate president called on the committee to give their report and the status of the task given.

The Senate Clerk, Senator Oyetunde Wasiu Oyekunle, who is the secretary of the committee, gave his report and expressed his dissatisfaction towards the low turn up of the Senators in charge, he referred the house back to the memorandum released on the 5th of November, 2020 on the alteration to the constitution of which a very low feedback was gotten, though, this didn’t deterred the committee on the assignment given and a commendable step has been taken in ensuring the constitution is properly reviewed in a due time. However, there is room for submission of memoranda regarding the alteration to the constitution before the final collation.

Several questions came up and was duly attended to, abreast the questions and answers was an allegation on some of the principal officials, Senate President included, for being involved in partisan politics which in no way can take the union to any intended height. Clarity was made by the alleged officials and proper justification was made.

In absence of other businesses, motion was raised for the adjournment of the meeting by Senator Oladeye Taiwo Olawaseun from FCAH&PT, Moor Plantation and was seconded by Senator Taiwo Simeon from MAPOLY Chapter.

And another Senator, (name not mentioned) led us through the closing prayer and the meeting was adjourned indefinitely.

Communique Drafting Committee.

Senator OYETUNDE, Wasiu Oyekunle.

Senate Clerck

Chairman

Senator ABDULAZEEZ, Maleeq Olamilekan

FOSSU President, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto.

Secretary

Senator Adeola Faisodeen A.

FOSSU President, University of Ibadan.

Member

Senator Khaleed

FOSSU President Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

Member

Senator ADEDIRAN, Abiodun Sunday

FOGSU National President.

Member

 SEN. AJADI ISAAC OLUWASEGUN 

FOSSU NATIONAL SENATE PRESIDENT