By Dairo Seyifunmi Moses [Bigzion]
Posters go up in the WhatsApp group. “Vote wisely.” “I will be your voice.” Two or three weeks later, information starts coming in pieces. Someone hears about a test from a friend. Someone else finds out about assignments when it’s already deadline. Or even worse, you get important course materials few hours before your examination. And when you ask, “What did the class reps say?” the answer is usually, “I don’t know, they didn’t tell us.”
So you’re forced to ask these recurring questions. Are our class representatives really representing us, or are they just representing themselves? And just as important, are we as a class making their job possible, or are we part of the problem? This small office has become a mirror of bigger politics. Promises, power, and sometimes, personal gain. But it takes two to make representation work.
When elections happen in class, the speeches are usually inch perfect. “I will make sure you get information on time.” “I will ensure I represent the department well.” “I will be transparent with departmental dues.”
The reality a few months later is usually different. Rumour becomes official channels for passing information. Some class reps become closer to course advisers and lecturers than to the students they were elected to serve. Others disappear until it’s time to collect money or take attendance.
It’s not that everyone is bad. Some class reps are really trying. But the system makes it easy to switch from “servant” to “boss.” Once you are the one with the lecturer’s number, the departmental admin group, and the assignment details, you hold power. And power, even in a class of 80 people, can change how you act.
There are a few reasons this keeps happening. First, we don’t treat class rep as a serious position. Campaigns are done with a lot of promises. “Vote me, I’m your guy.” No plan, no accountability. So people who just want the title, the recognition, or the connection to lecturers end up winning.
Another instance is lack of feedback. Once elected, the class reps are rarely questioned. Students just complain in private but no one organizes to ask questions. Without pressure, it is easy to do the bare minimum.
Also, some class reps start enjoying the perks. Being the one lecturers call first. Being excused from certain things. Getting information early. Gradually, the job becomes about access for one person instead of service for the class in general.
Truth be told, the class also has a role to play. And here is the part we don’t talk about enough. Representation is not a one-man job. A class rep cannot carry 80 people alone if the class refuses to work with them.
We always expect instant updates, but we barely read the messages sent in the group. We complain that “the reps didn’t tell us,” but when they do, 20% don’t respond or react and 80% will leave it unread. We expect them to represent us before the lecturers, but we are not doing our part.
Regardless of how we want to put it, one thing is very important: a class rep needs cooperation to succeed. That means responding to polls on time, paying dues when agreed, and giving honest feedback instead of gossiping behind. If the class is divided, the reps will look confused. If the class is united, even a weak rep can be pushed to do better.
Beyond just cooperation, the class should also encourage the class reps and work with them for the improvement and development of the department. Encouragement matters. A simple “thank you for the update” or “we appreciate you” goes a long way in keeping the reps motivated. When the department is planning a seminar, or even an excursion, ensure you participate actively. The department grows when the class and the reps work as one team, not as two separate sides.
When both sides do their part, information flows faster, problems get solved earlier, and lecturers take the class more seriously. The department also benefits because an active class with active reps can push for better facilities, better academic support, and a stronger reputation for the department.
When representation fails in class, everyone feels it. Missed information can translate to missed tests. Late notice on assignments. Poor communication with lecturers means the whole class suffers for problems that could have been solved early.
Worse, it teaches us the wrong lesson about leadership. If our first experience of “politics” is a class rep who only shows up for himself, and a class that only complains, we grow to believe that all leaders and all citizens are like that. That is how political apathy starts.
This can definitely be fixed, but we must understand it takes two to tango.
Class reps should be elected with clear expectations. Not just “I will represent you,” but “Here is how I will send information, how often I will give reports, and how you can reach me.” A simple weekly update in the class group would solve half the problem. They should also be open to correction and delegation.
Students also need to do their part. Read announcements. Respond on time. Encourage the reps when they do well. Correct them respectfully when they fall short. Hold the reps accountable, but also support them. If they are working, we should back them up and work with them on projects that will develop our department. We need to understand they are fellow students, not professional politicians. They also need guidance.
The class reps should be a bridge between the students and the lecturers, not a gatekeeper. Likewise, a class should be a team, not just an audience. The job is not to be special. The job is to make sure no student in the class is left in the dark, and to make sure our department keeps growing.
Because representation starts small. And if we cannot get it right in class, working together, how will we get it right at SUG level, or in Nigeria as a whole?
