In every society, either public or private, the thoughts and opinions of the members are sacred as they are undeniably, perspectives and views influenced and hinged on several indelible experiences; adulterated or not. And as long as the reasons of men remain fallible still, and there is liberty to exercise such, opinions become indispensable. In this regard, recourse is made to the opinions of the members of the society.
On this note, Legal Kekenke organized an inner opinion poll to create an unrestrained platform for members of the Law Students' Society to express their thoughts and perspectives as regards some pressing matters. Some of these encompass issues raised during the recently held society Congress, as well as others matters that have garnered several significant and subjective viewpoints.
Basically, below are the following issues:
—The hike in the LSS Dinner due; an approximately 53.85% increment from the initial amount of N6,500 to N10,000.
— Solicitation for strict adherence to the standard of "Seniority at the bar" in order to maintain the tenets of respects to be accorded to the senior colleagues.
—The removal of Jazparo, the public relations officer of the society, as an Admin on LSS Related Issues WhatsApp group.
—The supposed usurpation of Jazparo's roles and function as the PRO in lieu of the appointment of media aide by the vice president.
—Whether or not the Vice President is constitutionally empowered to appoint a media aide.
—Whether the recent altercations amongst the SEC members an issue for concern?
It is noteworthy that certain members of the society advocated for non-disclosure of their identity for the free expression of their opinions regarding the matters. This has prompted us to maintain anonymity, in a bid to ensure an environment where individuals can candidly share their perspectives without any reservation.
THE OPINION POLL
QUESTION 1: What is your opinion with regards to the increment of LSS dinner due?
“ The decision is alright, considering the price of goods presently and the last due is over 6 months now. So, it's very appropriate"
- Tobi LL.B2
“Things are on the high side currently, but I feel consideration can be given to the students' pockets too. A 1000 or 2000 reduction might help”
- Anonymous
“Sincerely, that price is on a very high side but then I wouldn't blame them entirely. The state of things in Nigeria left them with no other choice. Everything is expensive and like they said in the congress, just because everything is expensive doesn't mean they should lower the standards of the dinner"
- Anonymous.
"Well, the dinner fee represents nothing but the reality of the present economic situation easily obtainable in our society. It is not about the food alone– the venue, the transportation and other logistics count too.
For Ambidextrous and his friends, it's a fair amount."
- Ambidextrous.
“For me, I believe the hike in dinner due is warranted as a result of the skyrocketing inflation and it is what most Lssites would expect seeing the general soaring prices of commodities.
However, I still believe it could have been lower than this, let's say increase by 1500, and the administration could help us get a buffer somewhere else in the form of soliciting funds or managing what they have to the last penny.
Because now that Lssites are paying 10k...they are leaving out too many options...one is a lot of people will be disinterested in going for this year's dinner due to financial reasons.
Next is the entitlement feeling, and I'm not saying LSSITES always feel entitled, but then if we are paying 10k, the administration be better prepared to give us a befitting dinner and NOTHING LESS of a royal feeling because if not...Lss related is up for another 1k plus messages of banters...because it is 10k"
- Arowolo Olajide Akorede,300 level
“I'm not in support of the hike. It's not reasonable"
- Anonymous
“Well, I wasn't in the Congress to know their reason for arriving at this amount. It's quite expensive. The increment from the last amount is not a joke.The economy is harsh already. Let them get sponsors and reduce the price to cover up.
I hope we even get reasonable satisfaction at least for our money. The school is not also making friendly financial policies."
- Kikelomo Rachael Oluwole, 500 level
“ I think the amount is too much. I understand that there is inflation in the cost of things now but the Sum of #10000 is just too much and it needs to be considered."
- Anonymous, 500-level
“About the hike in the LSS week dues, I don't think the money is too much considering the constant hike in prices of commodities.
- Gloria, 200-level
QUESTION 2: Your opinions regarding the move for adherence to the standard of "seniority at the bar" in LSS, and the purported disrespect shown to the senior colleagues by the juniors.
"I really do not have much to say about it, but i just feel there should be mutual respect between both the juniors and seniors. Senior colleagues shouldn't disrespect their juniors too. Respect is reciprocal"
- Anonymous
"To me o, respect is reciprocal as we are all first human beings before being law students. It’s sometimes absurd that because of seniority at the bar, make 20 years old 400-level student dey tell 32 years old 100-level student that there’s seniority at the bar. Minus age sef, one thing I hate most is disrespect. Make my elder sister shout on me sef, I no dey gree or make I wan voice my opinion make dem shut me up cos they are older, annoys me a lot.
In conclusion, current senior colleagues have just been abusing the power given to them by the faculty. No one begs for respect. If you deserve it, you’ll be given and if you're still disrespected on top, then put yourself in a place of respect so no one go near you. All these rubbish wey dem dey perform dey annoy me sha, but it is what it is, I hope it ends with our set".
- Anonymous
"I personally think that asking for seniority at the bar when the faculty has just 70 slots for law school is crazy, but that's just me. I mean, some people from 2 sets ago have not gone and you don't even know if we'll be called to bar at the same time."
- Anonymous
"It's actually not a bad thing, but some seniors are doing too much. We are still students. I'm saying they should become lawyers first before doing their seniority at the bar. You don't ask for respect, you earn it".
- Anonymous
"Actually, seniority is one of the core principle of the legal profession and it has to be imbibed among we; the Bar and legal profession aspirants also. But the latest issue on the seniority at the bar issue of a thing on LSS Related group, to me, it has degenerated from 'what it used to be' or 'what it ought to be'. Let's not forget that this seniority we are even talking about is premised on the year you are admitted and not on age-preference. But we can't shy away from the fact that age doesn't determine class or how and when you get admitted.
But there is this popular saying that Respect is Reciprocal. You don't buy (force) respect, you earn it. If you disrespect me on the basis of the fact that you're a senior colleague and I know I'm older than you, I will definitely insult you too and put you in your place.
First of all, what is the seniority at the bar among law student is or what should it be premised on? Does that mean if you're sitting in the moot court or classroom, I should stand up for you ? Or when you talk, I should keep silent or your opinion should suffice mine? We understand the way it is in the real legal profession, SAN’s are given the privilege to sit alone at the front seat and their cases are called before any others even if it is the last on the list. But that is what they have spent years to earn, you get ??
Not the one we're forcing here is LSS, like what have you achieved? You see this seniority issue of a thing, it is only in LSS, because I was once a student of another department in this school, this seniority of a thing does not even exist because we roll together.
I honestly believe this seniority at the bar of a thing in Faculty of Law is unnecessary. Although we're trying to inculcate the same rules we are going to meet at the bar here within ourselves, it is one taken too far. The respect should be mutual."
- Anonymous
"Thank You for seeking my humble Opinion on this subject matter. First and foremost, What determined the concept “Seniority at the bar” ?
I stand to be corrected, But with my little experience within the legal practice, seniority at the bar is based on the payment of bar annual practicing fee among lawyers. The receipt of such fee is used to calculate Seniority!
On the issue at hand related to LSS, I think the issue of seniority at the bar among students is just based on moral justification and no legal justification for that. You can respect someone in part 4 or 5 on a moral ground and not on legal grounds because none has been called to bar and no student is paying bar practicing fee yet which will allocate them a seniority.
In Conclusion, using seniority at the bar among lssites is just on ethical and moral ground which to me doesn’t have a legal backing but I will implore juniors to as well respect their seniors on moral grounds because in the long run, Junior students will still need their senior’s help.
God bless LSS!"
- Anonymous
"I don't mind ohhh, but if any senior colleague crosses his/her boundary, I'll change it for them".
- Anonymous
"Well, to me, seniority at the bar is a way of showing respect to your seniors at the ‘Bar’. In a court proceeding, junior lawyers are called last. Calling your seniors at the bar first is a way of showing respect to them as they have a little or more experience than the juniors. That’s all I have to say with regards to that.
So my opinion is that, seniority at the bar is meant to be put in place because, it is a tradition at the ‘bar’ and it’s a way of respecting lawyers who are our seniors at the bar".
- Anonymous
"Honestly, I feel as students, we are taking it to the extreme and its becoming absurd. There's nothing wrong with seniority at 'the bar' because it implies a certain degree of experience and expertise at the craft. But bring it down to the university level, it just does not sit well with me.
And I feel it's only here in Nigeria that we always want to be reminded in every little way that we are superior to people. Our egos need to be fed regularly. I've heard some cases in our school and I would just smile like, "what exactly are you people playing at?".
- Anonymous
“Personally I don't have any experience with anybody because I treat everyone the way I would want to be treated. And I feel that's how it should be. No one should on the grounds of 'seniority at the bar' stop people from expressing themselves. We are in the 21st century for crying out loud and we are all adults.
Let's give unto Ceaser what is due to him and I feel everyone should have some degree of respect for themselves too in order to avoid looking for validation elsewhere."
- Anonymous
"A lot of these senior colleagues are actually very unserious. Asking for seniority at the bar as if their life depends on it and is always shouting about 100 level students being on the group. Aren't we students of the faculty?
You can't even express your opinion without being asked what level you're in. A lot of them actually need to return to secondary school because it's looking like they didn't get the chance to live their secondary school senior fantasy.
- Anonymous
QUESTION 3: The removal of Jazparo, the public relations officer of the society as an Admin on LSS Related issues WhatsApp group. Was it justified?
"I won’t use the word “fair”, I would rather support a level of disciplinary move issued out to him. I also believe it’s a family thing, by family, I mean executive council members."
-Lharryvee, 500L
"To me, Jazparo deleting the VIce President’s broadcast is wrong totally, and beyond his powers. So in my opinion, I think he stepped out of line, angered the other excos, the Welfare director, Gen. Secretary and Financial secretary and that caused his removal."
-Anonymous
"...As much as Mr Jazparo is not responsible to the Senior Exective Council(SEC) but the law students, he has a moral duty to conduct himself in a manner that does not drag the SEC in the mud. If Mr. Jazparo who has now ran to the Law Students Representative Council had believed in the capacity of that same house to call whoever to order. He should not have helped himself by proceeding to remove the Vice President as an Admin. I am surprised that he really did not like it that he was illegally removed too. Two wrongs dont make a right. Jazparo is as wrong as those who removed him..."
- Barrytee 400L
"I think Jazparo has a right to delete that broadcast as it was not disseminated through the right channel, but then, instead of doing that publicly, it should have been addressed privately. This not been addressed in the right manner led to his removal as an admin on the group."
- Hanif, 200L
"It's not fair. The removal of the PRO as the admin on LSS related issues is a constitutional blunder from the office of the president. If the number one citizen of the society can flout the clear provision of the constitution, what precedent does this set for other members of society?
The constitution clearly provides in SEC 2(2) that the PRO shall manage all LSS AAUA notice boards and social media platforms and shall ensure their orderliness. The use of "shall" emphasizes this obligation. Regardless of what the PRO has done, left to me, the president has no authority to remove the pronounced individual by law as the admin."
- Lord Clinton, 200L
"I think Jazparo’s actions were too extreme, he should have probably lodged his complaints at the excos forum. His removal is therefore fair and right."
- Anonymous 100L
QUESTION 4: Your opinion as regards the supposed usurpation of Jazparo's roles and function as the Public Relations Officer of the society due to the appointment of media aide by the vice president.
"I understand Jazparo but I feel he shouldn't have felt threatened by the media aide. He should have just said the media aide was wrong to publicize that information instead of deleting.
- Anonymous
"What I was able to gather from the whole issue is that it is the PRO's duty to pass down information from the executives but if the vice president decides she wants to pass out information, I see nothing wrong."
- Faith
"From my angle of the matter, I feel it all started with a sort of animosity among the parties, that is, the PRO and the vice president since the drama that ensued was unnecessary.
- Miracle
"The fact of the matter is that constitutionally, she is entitled to a media aide but it's also unnecessary if it has to do with impersonal duties. The PRO can as well handle the matters when necessary. The vice president having a media aide isn't necessary if it's just official matters she's disseminating and it's for the good of the society. After all, the PRO is in charge of all things media in the society".
- Busolami
"If the Vice President should have a media aide, there should be clear cut boundaries between the PRO and the media aide's functions in order to avoid an issue of usurpation of functions as we now have".
- Mercy
"Jazparo's roles were usurped as I feel a media aide would just lead to duplication of functions".
- Anonymous
"What is usurpation of Jazparo's rights when the constitution has provisions for a media aide in spite of there being a PRO?".
- Anonymous
"I feel an amicable talk should hold between the PRO and the media aide. I don't feel any rights of the PRO were usurped or taken".
- Anonymous
"Personally, I don't think Jazparo had the right to delete any post made by the media aide as long as the content is not wrong. And I also don't think his rights were usurped. Anyway, two wrongs don't make a right".
- Fola
"I see this as a case of inadequate in-house communication. If all was well between the VP and Jazparo, what happened would not have happened. Let them arrange everything among themselves first".
- Anonymous
"Jazparo could've communicated through other means, instead of deleting the post. That showed no respect for the office of the Vice President at all".
- Temi
"In my own opinion o, the president is the cause of all these. Had he clearly spelt out what each person's duties and responsibilities are, that drama would've been avoided".
- Michael
QUESTION 5: What’s your opinion on the supposed section of the constitution that empowers the Vice President to have a media aid?
"It's the second highest position in the country or society, as the case maybe. He is an alternative substitute for the position of the president where the president is absent. Hence, he has the mandate to function as president. So, as the President has his media aide, the Vice President should also have.
Both the President and Vice president are jointly voted to be the supreme head. Both are entitled to aides. The office of the president differs from the VIce President’s office. They ought to function separately. Each should have his aide. That’s all I have to say
- Mc Nazareth
"In my opinion, first of all, there’s no section in the LSS constitution that prohibits the Vice President from having a media aides because I feel like, as law students, what matters most is the constitution. As long as your actions are in line with the constitution and are not contrary to what the constitution says, it is actually right and legal. So, I feel it’s not a big deal if the Vice President has her own media aide".
- Adeyemi
QUESTION 6: Are the recent, yet consistent altercations amongst the SEC members an issue for concern? Is the administration setting up or maintaining a bad standard?
"Issues or not, we need to address the fact that the PRO made a mistake and he should be held accountable for it. Which the president did".
- P., 300-level student
"It isn’t a big deal, the issue shouldn’t have resulted into this big of a mess".
- Anonymous
"I honestly just hope the issue is resolved quickly and amicably".
- Anonymous
"Actually, due to the level of politics in LSS, i believe every “realist” should expect this sort of tussle from every administration. The last administration had theirs but it was still a successful administration. So, I won’t term it “setting up a bad standard”. Maybe the issues could have been settled in a better way, but they are needed to checkmate every society office holders".
- Anonymous
"It’s already obvious many times how these executives oppose themselves even in the face of the public. It’s almost seeming like a joke when they play by political parties but this didn’t just start with the Alaafin Administration, it’s been this way since Mayor’s or before but this particular one is just too obvious!"
- Anonymous
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In the tapestry of public sentiment, this opinion poll encompasses a thread of diverse perspectives on the aforementioned matters within the society. Regardless of the diversity in the opinions, it is believed that it shaped our collective voices on pressing matters, and as well, allowed us to have more articulated insights regarding the society.
LK... Making A Statement!
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