On the said date, the legislative arm of the association called an emergency sitting sequel to one held only a week before to complete the process of constitutional amendment amongst other issues.
The congressional session was scheduled to commence by 9am at LT3, but due to tardiness amongst other issues, it did not kick off until about 11am, when congressmen started "driving" in with their various traditional attires and casual outfits.
Finally, the sitting kicked off with the reading and adoption of the minutes of the last sitting after which the speaker moved to the next item on the agenda, which was the presentation of a financial statement of the association account by the financial secretary.
Unfortunately, the financial secretary of the association, Stanley Umeh was not present.
His absence irked Lawsa legislators as more than a few rose to complain that this was not the first time the house was sending for him and his disrespectfully refusing to appear without as much as a letter to the house stating so or why.
It was at this point that the deputy speaker of the house, hon Franklin, moved a motion for the impeachment of the financial secretary on grounds of abuse of office, which was immediately seconded.
However, Hon Freeman Ochei of the 500level constituency, countered the motion and thus forcing it to a vote, which was won by the deputy speaker.
Consequently, impeachment proceedings commenced against the financial secretary who shall automatically stand suspended, upon the receipt of the signature of 150 Lawsans, pending the conclusion of impeachment proceedings.
With that out of the way, the house moved on to complete the amendment of the constitution which was adjourned last week.
The process was going on quite smoothly, until the house got to the section that dealt with elective positions, the office of the President, the Vice-President, the Secretary General, the Attorney General, the Director of Sports, where zoned exclusively to the 400level constituency.
While the office of the Director of Socials and the Assistant Secretary General was zoned to the 300level class exclusively.
The office of the Assistant Financial Secretary and the Public Relations Officer (P.R.O) was zoned exclusively to the 200level class.
Chaos erupted however when the position of the Financial Secretary which was formerly exclusive to the 300level constituency in the proposed draft was amended via a motion to be open to both the 300level and 400level constituencies.
Legislators from the 300level could not hide their dismay and consternation, protesting that this was injustice and that congress was trying to turn the association into a "400level association".
In the end, the matter was put to a vote and the majority thad heir way, with the said section in dispute been open to both levels, the 300level congressmen in protest, stormed out of the sitting. This particular act irk the members of the final year class present, complaining that it was a slap on their face and disrespectful to say the least.
In furtherance of their anger, they proceeded to ban all 300level students from setting foot into their class henceforth.
After a while, the uproar reduced and normalcy returned as the Speaker pleaded with members of his class to be calm, promising to handle the issue.
The clerk of the house, hon Efosa Okpamen, was caught in a dilemma, as he was torn between his duty to the house and solidarity with his constituency. The Speaker prevailed on him to stay but after a while, he left the proceedings and hon Fortune from the 100level constituency took his stead.
At about 4pm, the house went on recess, where the leadership of the house provided refreshments for the congressmen present and returned back to its business.
Amidst turns and stops, observations and motions, at about 7:30pm, the house completed it's amendment proceedings, with visible and tremendous amount of joy and relief on the faces of all congressmen.
The Speaker called for a motion, for the adoption and immediate commencement of the new constitution.
The motion was moved by hon Kenneth Nwimo of the 200level constituency but was countered by hon Philip of the 500level class, asserting that such a monumental privileged soul be reserved for the highest class in the faculty.
The issue was put to a vote and with the exception of hon Kenneth Nwimo, the entire house concurred. Thus, hon Philip moved the said motion which was seconded by the deputy speaker, hon Franklin, after which the house erupted in shouts of joy and hitting of desks, which drew the curiosity of readers in the other LTs, that soon became onlookers.
At 7:32pm on June 4th 2016, the new constitution became the force of law for the University of Benin, Law students association.
Finally, the chairman of the Social and Protocol committee, hon Philip addressed the house on the forthcoming Law week, starting on the 6th of June, imploring congressmen to participate fully.
Seeing as the association was now under new law, hon Franklin moved a motion to renew the impeachment proceedings against the Financial Secretary, unfortunately, by this time, congressmen were tired and exhausted and decided to give the Financial Secretary a chance at redemption.
The house finally adjourned at about 8pm.
Report by gafar.
No comments:
Post a Comment