The Congress
The President, Adelaju Amos, raised the issue of seniority at the bar as the Congress officially commenced. Mr Abdul Haqq (Haybee), a 500 level student spoke on the embarrassing ways some juniors speak to their seniors on LSS Related Issue (WhatsApp Group), and also remarked that some juniors behaved this way because of the manners the senior colleagues related with them publicly. He was of the opinion that this manner of relation afford the juniors to advertently take them with levity. He equally implored everyone to relate to one other with respect.
In response, the President stated that every disrespect of senior colleagues would be taken as a serious offence and such an individual would be punished severely. On this same note, Honourable Ajayi Oluseyi (Esquire), a 300 level student, countered the president's supposition, claiming that, by virtue of the Law Students' Society Constitution, the president cannot personally punish an offending lssite. He relayed categorically that only the Board Of Justices is constitutionally empowered to carry out such disciplinary function. The President however retracted the statement, but with more clarity, stating that the proposed punishment of the prospective defiant should be taken to mean that the due process of law would not be followed. Instead, it would be taken as a serious one.
The second issue for deliberation was the dinner due. The President said that he personally wouldn't want to increase the dinner due, but the increment was due to the current Nigerian economic situation, and that the envisaged amount for a proper dinner would cost around five million naira (N5,000,000). He also stated that his administration alone could not do it all.
In this regard, the president proposed a bill of fifteen thousand naira(N15,000) as the dinner due, while attributing the cause of increment to the hike in the price of fuel and commodities. In his words,
"a standard had been set and it was one they have to meet."
He also mentioned that the bill was not only for the dinner, but for the entire law week.
Hon. Olaniyi Lekan (Levkins), the current Speaker of the Law Students Representative Council, responded with a remark supposing the president to be joking as regard the proposed amount. He compared the amount paid for the dinner during the last administration with the currently proposed amount, stating it to be an 100% increase, and that it was too much.
Also, Mr Adenibuyan Adedamola(Lharryvee), a 500 level student, shared the same thought, and thereby asked the president if the fifteen thousand naira was a proposal, to which Mr president affirmed.
He then went on to make recourse to the previous president’s (Mayor) administration, stating that the money was not paid by every member, and despite that, the money was not enough to do anything, and that there were even deliberations that the dinner might eventually get postponed. He also noted the complaint of the members of the society, who claimed the money was only spent to organise the dinner. In their defence, he claimed that money was used for both the dinner and the president's projects.
He further suggested for fund soliciting by the president, and a possible change of location for the dinner in order to cut down the proposed amount.
Also, Adesina Mayowa (Mayor of LSS), the previous president of the society, shared his own view as regards the increase in the price of commodities, and the difficulty in fund soliciting. In this regard, the proposed five million naira was not much. However, thr payment of fifteen thousand naira by each member of the society was too high, and should be reconsidered by the president.
In response to the earlier views and objections raised by the above persons, the President threw the proposal to the public for deliberation and also requested for suggestions on the price to be paid. He also clarified that the amount to be paid comprised the whole law week contrary to the dinner alone as earlier pointed out.
Following this, Hon. Levkins requested for a motion to be moved to decide on the exact amount to be paid for the dinner, and equally moved the motion for the reduction of the amount to ten thousand naira (N10,000). His motion was consecutively seconded by Esquire.
The President commended the agreement of the house and also charged for a proactive payment. However, Temilola Owoyemi ( Sir Temmy), 300-level student, reacted by suggesting an installmental payment for the dinner fee. In response, the president noted the impossibility, due to inability to have a proper accounting for the amount paid. He therefore suggested that the money should be kept in the hands of the financial secretary or a trusted friend.
A 300-level student, Semilore raised the observation that the earlier proposed fifteen thousand would still not be enough if it had been approved. He also linked this to the transportation fare and the location. Mr. Adenibuyan raised a point of order, halting the inquiry of Senator Semilore that once a motion had been moved and the house agreed, such matter is enclosed and can only be brought up in a point of order.
Subsequently, he Congress moved to the Any Other Business (AOB) session.
Hon. Esquire raised the issue of the President not constitutionally calling for the congress and the President responded that the General secretary was in the best position to answer that.
Also, Mr JoelMilk raised the issue of dress code and Mr Abdulhaqq reacted by reiterating the importance of dress code and urged the society to adhere strictly to the faculty formal dress code. Mr Adenibuyan added by urging all the students to dress properly as he explained how indecent dressing can delay law school admission.
On the same note, Mr Mayowa buttressed Mr. Adenibuyan's point as regards the implication of disrespect to dress code.
Mr Peter Emmanuel, a 500lv student also implored the students to adhere strictly to the dress code for the sake of nobility and respect to the faculty.
Mr Adefehinti Oluwambe, the Chairman of the Task force finally addressed the society as regards the violation of the faculty dress code, and he promised to take disciplinary action against violators.
The President called upon members for their observations and Mr. Oki Al-hassan(Ambidextrous), a 300-level student in response, asked for a clarification on the nullification of the Board Of Justices. The president responded that there will be 7 Justices and the remaining will clear themselves for ratification.
Lastly, Miss Temira from 200 level asked for clarification as regards the official colour of faculty, to which the president reacted to that there is no modification to the dress code. In his words, it is strictly black and white. Miss Temira also mentioned that the 100-level students who won emerged as winners of the Mr and Miss Fresher had not gotten their prizes. The President claimed it was an oversight and he promised to attend to it in due season and reasonable period of time.
Mr Adenibuyan Adedamola led the closing prayer and the congress came to an end at exactly 1:40pm.
LK... Making a statement!
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