When the Students Union Electoral Committee( SU Elcom) released the names of eligible candidates for the 2023 Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto’s Students Union elections, a dust of surprise blew the eyes of Danfodites, after seeing that the office of the president, together with other eight offices, was unopposed.
The students of Danfodiyo Varsity were expecting a tough battle to ensue_ just like that of Faruq Barade and A.A Funtua in 2018_ in attaining the position of the ‘001’ as fondly called by the greatest Nigerian students.
Anyways. There was no cause for alarm. Perhaps, the president, Comrade Lukman Muhammad Sanusi, is one of those luckiest men of whose fortune always put it on a plate just for him to tap in.
All the newly elected Students Union Executives were inaugurated on Friday, 9th June except the office of the Welfare Director whose result is still hovering in the air due to inconclusiveness.
Even though many people still tagged the 2023 administration as selected executives in disguise due to the number of unopposed offices, it’s safe to say that students of UDUS are now under a canoe of well inaugurated leaders carved out from their choices.
The Sanusi-led administration released its first official statement on Friday, 16th June barely seven days after being inaugurated to offices.
“In regard to the promises made by the current Students Union Executive to sustain, maintain and surpass the existing programs, plans, welfare and wellbeing of all Danfodites. From the table of this current board of executives we wish to use this momentous moment to bring the following to the closest hearing of all the Danfodites,” the statement reads in part.
One of the things the executive board brought to the hearing of Danfodites is the fruitless effort of the union to persuade the school management in extending the registration exercise for the returning students.
Also, the union said it’s aware of the hike in transport fare and price of commodities within the campus and has already commenced negotiations to those effects.
The statement also said the union is working on creating an alternative to the popular demand from the students of Faculty of Vet. Medicine, Agricultural Science, Management Science, Social Science and Bakassi Hostel residents in regard to the extension of school bus service to their proximity.
We hope that the union’s promises do not turn out to be a chronicle of words only accessible on social media spaces and statements printed and painted on the walls of UDUS campus. Ameen.
Meanwhile, that’s not all in the statement. Part of it that caught our attention is the last section which stressed out clubs, associations and societies registration.
All those provisions contained in the statement regarding procedures for registration are not alien to any association or club on UDUS campus.
“All associations, clubs and unions within the campus shall commence their usual and customary registration starting from Monday 19th of June 2023 to 23rd of June 2023, and all customary necessary documents shall be submitted to the office of the Secretary,” the statement reads in part.
However, the Sanusi-led administration added another provision which raised a great concern and raised a few eyebrows.
The Union said ‘the registration fees shall be a sum of N5,000.’
No wonder the statement is themed ‘URGENT NOTICE.’ It is indeed urgent and the union urgently needs to revisit the Revised Students Handbook to check the provisions for registration of any association, club or society within the campus.
There’s no doubt these clubs or associations play a greater role towards the development of the university standard. And that is the reason the school management generously provided a platform for them to operate within the campus.
According to paragraph 5.5.3 of the Revised Students Handbook, 2020/2021, “There are various types of clubs and associations in the University. The umbrella organization for all clubs and associations is the Students’ Union.”
The provision stated that details of clubs, societies and associations in the University can be obtained from the Student’ Affairs Division and associations/clubs
shall operate in the University under the supervision of the Dean of Students’ Affairs.”
“All associations/clubs/societies shall apply to the Dean of Student Affairs for registration or renewal of registration at the beginning of each session.
“The Student Affairs Division would publish the list of successful clubs/associations/societies approved to operate in the University for each session.
The above paragraphs are the ones that deal with the registration process of any club or association within the campus as contained in the Students Handbook.
We have searched with microscopic eyes the whole provisions that deal with the registration process of any club or association and could not see where a sum of N5,000 is needed as part of the requirements for registration.
There’s no doubt that this is an unwarranted, shocking innovation introduced by our newly inaugurated students union executives. And it has no basis either legally from the Students Handbook_which serves as the constitution_or from the moral standpoint.
Because the students that are operating these associations also constitute part and parcel of the university community. If the Students Union wants to generate revenue from the registration should kindly resort to another means.
Moreover, these students in question are now paying the sum of N1,50.00 Union fees contained in the tuition fees scheduled for the 2022/2023 academic session.
We have also thoroughly checked the provision regulating the relationship between the Union Registered Students Clubs/Societies/Associations in Third Schedule and we couldn’t lay our fingers on any provision warranting the Union to slate a registration fee.
This is indeed the first mistake of our newly Students Union Executives. And we hope they correct it before we start losing confidence in them.