Damilola Kushimo, Michael Babatunde
The Moshood Abiola Polytechnic Students’ Representatives Council, SRC led by Rt. Hon. Olasile Aderemi has rejected the 1000 naira Student Union due proposed by the student union of the institution.
In an urgent plenary session held on Monday, 8 July, 2019 in the hallowed chamber with MAPSU President and all departmental presidents present, the lawmaking arm of the students body announced that everything concerning the due be placed on hold till it gives its verdict in 48 hours.
Recall that the Student Union President, Samson Omoniyi had on Friday, 5 July, 2019, summoned student stakeholders to a meeting where the proposed #1000 SU due was allegedly agreed by some of the stakeholders present.
The speaker of the legislative arm, rejected the proposed due on account of grumbling and displeasure that ensued in some quarters as regards the proposed fee.
Defending the proposed amount, Heritage said, "You’ll believe with me that the fee was suggested by stakeholders present in the meeting held last week after taking the numerous entrepreneurship initiatives we intend to exposed the students to and seeing the fee as a substantial amount, the executive had adopted and proposed in order to fund the entrepreneural initiatives the SU intends to expose students to but, whatever the decision of the SRC, I’m okay with it. My administration is not to extort Mapaites, in any form. I remain committed to delivering our campaign promises and I can assure you that students of this institution will get satisfied in all ramification, we’ll do everything we can do to bring about a new MAPOLY, we’ve championed."
Speaking about his expectations of the SRC as regards the fee, President of Computer Science Department, Comrade John Peter ‘JP Crown’ pleaded that the fee be reduced to #800
"What I’m looking forward to hear as outcome of the review the lawmakers wants to embark on is that the fee be reduced to #800, at most. The current economic standard is a great factor and considering other expenses students will incur like departmental dues and the likes, I’ll be pleased if the due could be considerably reduced," said Comrade Egberonbi Damilola president Estate Management and Evaluation.
On his part, Comrade Akinbode Samson, the President of Urban and Regional planning, said that any contrary verdict from the SRC will be unaccepted stressing that #800 from all student across all department is sufficient to execute the projects the union president has proposed.
Hon. Yemi Egbebi representing computer science constituency implored the SU president to leverage on his intimidating personality and influence on social media to seek financial support outside the walls of institution.
"our president happens to be an influential person, man of many platform. He’s a leader and he knows how to go about generating funds in order to carry out his aims and proposed projects. The reality that other unavoidable payments lie ahead for the student shouldn’t be ignored. I’m convinced the eventual reduction of this fee will give the students, in its entirety, a great sense of influence," Egbebi said.
Aderemi in his response said, "We resolutely remain the voice of the students and we will progressively fight for the interest of Mapaites. The entire students should be optimistic of a considerable resolution by the lawmaking arm after we must have conducted thorough review of all qualitative opinions and reactions from the departmental presidents. Latest 48hours from now, we’ll come up with a resolution and regardless of what we agreed on, I’ll want the students to be convinced that it’s out of our best consideration. However, I’ll implore the entire students to perfect the payment as soon as possible in order complete their registration and encourage the SU as regards the project."
However, wheb contacted , Johnson Idowu, MAPSU PRO said "Students Union cannot make any decision on its own due, SRC are the representatives of the students. We already had a deliberation even at the stakeholders meeting we had, it was not proposed by us it was proposed by some of them that we should go for not more than #1000 and we are yet to make any official statement. As soon as we reach conclusion with the SRC, we will definitely get back to the students," .
Present at the plenary session alongside SRC members and MAPSU President were Comrades Arab Money from Computer Engineering, Comrade Rash Bayo from Accountancy, Comrade Stacypee from Marketing, Comrade Tr. Wisdom Ogbonna from the department of mass communication among others.