LAWMAKERS OR LAW BENDERS: LASUSU SPC’s LEGISLATIVE DROUGHT AND MISPLACED PRIORITIES

📝: Samuel Olomu and Zokoro Daniel

Leadership in any institution is a sacred trust. Indeed, it is a responsibility imposed by a person on another to serve, guide, and prioritize the welfare of many over self-interest.

Unfortunately, the Students’ Parliamentary Council (SPC) of the Lagos State University Students’ Union (LASUSU) and its Speaker have not only failed to set their priorities right over the years but also displayed stark ineptitude and lack of intelligence in the discharge of their constitutional duties.

Their actions, or lack of action, not only betray the trust of the student body but also expose their inability to comprehend the basic tenets of leadership.

The LASUSU SPC, under the current leadership, has become synonymous with mediocrity and inefficiency. Instead of maintaining focus on the core of law and policy formulation, the council has chosen to engage in frivolous activities that serve no purpose other than to inflate their egos.

This LASUSU SPC administration is a testament to “if you can’t make the law, you can bend it.” It is now a custom in this same administration to distribute the “National Cake” of suspension to the executive members of the union while shying away from their constitutional duties.

From organizing unnecessary gatherings to engaging in petty political squabbles, the SPC has consistently demonstrated a lack of focus and direction. Even its leader who should be the voice of reason and the custodian of the council’s integrity, has instead become a symbol of its failures.

Misplaced Priorities: A Case Study in Failure

Can there be lawmakers without law-making? The provision of Section 10 of the LASUSU Constitution 2022 is clear in this regard. It states that

“The Students’ Parliamentary Council shall have power to make law for the peace, order and good government of the union concerning any matters relating to the union.”

However, the LASUSU SPC has over the years displayed sheer ignorance and blatant disregard for this sacred provision of the Constitution. Its failure to pass any bill whatsoever since its inception affirms this assertion. Of what use then is a legislature that has abandoned its lawmaking functions?

Notably, the recent suspension of the Vice President and the Legal Director of the 35th LASUSU Union has drawn significant attention. As background, the LASUSU SPC suspended the Vice President for allegedly being rude to the house. Subsequently, the Legal Director was also suspended for securing an injunction from the LASUSU High Court on behalf of the suspended Vice President.

What does the law say in this regard?

A combine reading of the provisions of Section 272 of the Constitution of the Federal republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended and Section 51 of the Supreme LASUSU Constitution 2022 would lead one to the inevitable conclusion that every student of Lagos State university, including the Vice president of the union, has the inherent right to approach the LASUSU high court for the determination of the existence or extent of their legal right, duties, liabilities and what a view.

In the same vein, The Legal Director, being the Chief Law Officer of the Union, is empowered under Section 32(10) of the Supreme LASUSU Constitution to represent any member of the union, including the vice president, in the determination of the existence or extent of their rights.

To crown their ineptitude, the LASUSU SPC also replaced the legal director immediately with an honorable member. How on earth should that be?!

At this point, it is recommended that the confused speaker seek the counsel of one of the learned silks from the faculty of law for robust legal advice.

Unfortunately, the SPC’s tale of incompetence and mediocrity did not start with the current administration. Reference is made to the 34th LASUSU Administration where the then speaker, Rt. Hon. Hassan Haleemah was busy suspending the members of the executives while neglecting its law-making and policy formulation functions.

While students are suffocating under bad transport management, inadequate sanitation, and a clear lack of essentials, the SPC is holding frivolous functions and activities with really no purpose other than self-aggrandizement in politics.

What impact does the SPC have on the student body?

Sadly, the LASUSU SPC is losing relevance day-in-day-out. Its sittings is fast becoming a den of “political ignoramus” who shouts the usual “God bless Mr. Speaker!” while abandoning their constitutional functions.

Ridiculous political clashes and power tussles has become the order of the day. LASUSU SPC is now home for student representatives with no heart for student representation. We now see students who only want to fill their CVs with scintillating titles like “SPC Speaker – 23/24.”

This is a clarion call to the entire LASUSU administration to wake up to realization that leadership is not by long caps, it is by straight sense. This is to say that leadership is not measured by superficial display of authority.

A Call for Accountability!

The council can no longer continue without being questioned for its ineptitude. The SPC is very much out of touch with students, therefore, needs a rebuilt focus on the current issues pertaining to students, talk more about the amendment of the LASUSU constitution, pass and admit more student-centric bills, and address the concerns it has neglected for years.

Though, the council has a right to check the executives, however, it should try to set its priorities right to obtain optimum results of efficiency in lawmaking and other legislative matters.

The Speaker has two choices: to take the opportunity and exhibit the wisdom and vision to lead or stand aside for those who will.

NB – This piece represents the true and honest perspective of the writers and any complaint should be addressed to them accordingly.

📷: PrideofLagos