By Habeeb Lanlehin
The prequel evaluated and discussed the state of the association under the stewardship of Mr Ikotun Femi; critiquing his plans on establishing “political culture- brotherhood” and “social and Academic development”. This part takes the evaluation a bit further. It will discuss the other half of the manifesto.
On fundraising: the depth of NAPSS purse
Perhaps, the major reason the association barely have sponsors might be found in the President’s list of plans he dubbed as his Manifesto. He made no plans to seek sponsors but rather to generate revenue internally.
“As an entrepreneur, I can give the assurance that we as a department can generate, within ourselves, enough funds to cater for all organs – organize all statutory programs – without seeking sponsors. On paper, this might appear to be a beautiful plan but how did he intend to generate revenue internally? Apart from the promise he wrote in his manifesto, the President failed to highlight how he intended to generate revenue internally in his manifesto. It is believed that those who fail to plan, plan to fail. I am in no position to give a verdict but I can categorically state that the President barely generated any revenue internally.
The inability of the President to generate revenue internally has an adverse effect on the NAPSS purse as all programs in the department were sponsored from the basic dues of NAPSSites in different interview sessions conducted by this correspondent, different NAPSSities bemoan how the lack of funds affected programs of the association. During one of the interview sessions, Mr. X expressed his dissatisfaction by saying; I have been a student for a while and I have attended better cultural nights, the portion of food served was so small and the little ponmo added was so hilarious- it made me laugh. Is NAPSS that broke? Another NAPSSites who also plead anonymity expressed his dissatisfaction on NAPSS week and termed it boring and unspectacular. NAPSS week was just too boring for me, nothing spectacular happened and the cultural night was terrible and would have been a disaster if NAPSSites did not come to the venue with personal drinks. You know Sociology held their cultural night the same day as us and the disparity in the two events was glaring especially in the food department.
The heavy and lackluster reliance on NAPSSites’ basic dues came with a lot of problems and challenges and the Senate House became a villain as they slash budgets to suit the meagre purse of the association. The interview sessions conducted by this correspondent brought in diverse reactions from NAPSSities. A NAPSSite stated “ I don’t really blame the President for relying on basic dues, getting sponsors is not easy. I blame NAPSSites who failed to pay their dues” while another NAPSSite was of the contrary opinion and stated “If you want good programs, you need sponsors. Basic dues are never enough, not everyone will pay their dues. When asked about the House slashing budgets. A NAPSSite replied “I don’t blame the House for discharging their functions, they can’t approve the money the association doesn’t have. I hope everyone in the department understands this.”
Why is NAPSS purse meagre?
The primary source of funding for the NAPSS purse is the basic dues paid by NAPSSites. Per session, each NAPSSite is expected to pay a basic due of #2,500 out of which #1500 is to be spent on basic packages and #1000 to cater for events and budgets of the four organs ( Executive, Legislature, Press, L&D). It is imperative to note that NAPSS boasts a population of over 200 students.
The major problem that affects the purse comes from students who intentionally fail to pay their basic dues and thus put the activities of the association in jeopardy. During this session, a lot of NAPSSites failed to pay their dues and this affected the planning and finance of programs, to make matters worse, the executive was also unable to bring in viable sponsors for the association.
When the President promised to generate revenue internally, his first stop should have been basic dues but at this, he failed and a lot of NAPSSites got away with not paying their dues. The procedure was to make sure NAPSSites present their basic dues receipt before having their course forms signed by the staff adviser. Shockingly, a lot of NAPSSites were able to get their course forms signed without presenting their receipts or paying their basic dues. Had the President and members of his cabinet, specifically, the Financial Secretary, Miss Joy Oguniyi, and the Treasurer, Miss Olaopa Naomi followed the above procedure diligently maybe the association’s coffers would not be near empty and unable to cater to the needs of the association.
To make up for the failure of the President to get viable sponsors or generate revenue internally (as stated in his manifesto) and oversee the effective collection of basic dues. The Senate House was forced to dip hands into funds left over in the association’s account from the last session or else activities In the association would be grossly underfunded. While taking the decision to do this, the Senate President, Sen. Chinaemerem exercised caution and said something along the line of “if we are to take from money left in the association last session, we have to exercise caution and leave part of it for the next administration because if they didn’t leave something in the account we wouldn’t have anything to fall back on now”.
Also, to make up for the shortfall of funds, the sum of #300 was taken out of the #1500 which should have been for the basic package. This means NAPSSites would only be getting a jotter and nothing else. Traditionally, NAPSSites are entitled to a jotter and another item as their basic package but this session, they would only be getting a jotter as the fund that is meant to cater for the other item has been diverted to fund other activities in the association.
However, it is of huge importance to laud the President’s selfless acts of service for volunteering to print certificates for the Senate House free of charge, offering to print the association’s constitution at a subsidized rate, and also printing the department’s jotter ( basic package) at a discount at his printing company. At least, he made himself a sponsor and made personal sacrifices he necessarily didn’t have to make.
Ikotun’s career development plans
As political scientists the first speech we are given at the Large Theater Hall, University of Ibadan revolves around the fact that we can work “anywhere” before reality dawns and we start to question where exactly “anywhere” is. The President exercises some degree of foresight when he promised NAPSSites to assist them in learning skills that will have positive impacts on them careerwise.
Unsurprisingly, Mr. President did not discuss intricately (or maybe he did on Manifesto night) what skills or how he planned to deliver the “lofty” skills that were supposed to educate and Improve NAPSSites;
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Communication skills
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Basic and advanced computer skills
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Data analysis
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Teamwork
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Time management
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People management
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Creating and multiplying wealth.
Cheap words look enticing on paper and pieces of unfulfilled words are barely worth the paper they are printed on. Perhaps it is time for the President to address NAPSSites on how he has impacted on NAPSSites’ basic or advanced computer skills or the avenue through which he facilitated NAPSSites to learn how to create and multiply wealth. Before writing this article, efforts were made to reach out and get the President’s words by a correspondent of POSSPRESS but the President curtly denied the request. Also, while writing this piece, different NAPSSites were interviewed to ascertain if they were a beneficiary of the President’s “career development plans” but none of the interviewed NAPSSites was a beneficiary of such plan.
A house is as strong as the foundation it is built on and the quality of the leader will always reflect on the people in which he leads. The President’s scorecard on people management and encouraging teamwork while fostering an atmosphere of team spirit and inclusivity is evident and boldly detailed in how different levels inter-relate with each other. Unsurprisingly, in the just concluded executive elections in the association, almost all candidates talked about promoting “inclusivity” in the association and bridging the gaps between different levels.
