The present state of governance in Abdulsalami Abubakar Postgraduate Hall (AAH) is a Moses-Egypt plague. A plague that is contagious. Let’s break down these cancerous plagues.
Members of the Hall Executive Council (HEC) had lofty manifestos and promises to improve the social, environmental and physical welfare of the hallites. They promised to resuscitate the faulty inverters in all blocks – their administration witnessed the death of the only functional inverter in block B, repair the reading rooms’ door handles, construct a multiple game court and a recreational centre with pictorial representation, resuscitate the central public address system, and improve prompt dissemination of information.
Other plans included the regulation of prices of the commodities in the butteries, electronic advertisement of businesses and programs, improvement of the cafeteria service, monthly social events, the design and publishing of the Hall’s magazine, training of hallites on CPR, etc. Even the present Assistant-General Secretary ensured hallites that he would mandate the priorities set up by the Executives are executed. Maybe the priorities have not yet been set up.
These promises have died the death of deaths. The rivalry between members of the HEC and the ritual of monthly sanitation are the only projects executed. The achievement index and narrative is negative, not zero. Their shouts during the manifesto night summoned hallites with the expectation to deliver a city that is bigger than AAH, rather, they brought just a room, self contain.
But we must also commend the Executives for the tree planting, AAH manager premier league competition, and project dissertation programmes.
Our Hall Representative Council (HRC) are just there – though doing excellently better than the HEC. The HRC organised Battle of the Brains Competition – which would now be an annual competition – a fire safety training for hallites and replacement of faulty mirrors. We must congratulate Oluwatobi Beckley, representing Block A second floor constituency, for implementing all his campaign promises – a true leader.
But the HRC have failed in many areas. They have failed to probe the HEC with the regards to increment of the Hall dues, thereby failing to adhere to the directive from the University authorities that no dues should exceed N2,500 and there should be a refund of any additional levy collected for the 2018/2019 session. They failed to ensure the ethics guiding the hall are adhered to as some hallites still cook in their rooms and hall-way and spreading their clothes on the rails.
The relationship between the HEC and HRC is like the plot for Game of Thrones – a battle for the Iron Throne. The ending is plain, vanilla, no iron throne. The HRC was quick to suspend the Financial Secretary and issue a query to the Governor but failed to ensure Block C first floor constituency has a floor representative and inform the Hall Press of their meetings. The unhealthy competition between the two organs is visible to the visually impaired.
To get the best perspective of the Executives, observe the type of politics that led to the election of the present Executives. There was virtually no opposition.
The Hall Press Organization, if they still exist, has failed in their responsibility as the fourth realm of the estate. Their weekly publications have failed to checkmate the policies, inaction and blatant disobedience of our constitution by the HEC and HRC – maybe their type of strength is best displayed in silence. Maybe the Hall Management should seek those who are willing to perform the duties of a standard Press organization.
The most respected organ of the Hall – the Congress – became passive. Our Hallites – our Congress – watched with popcorn by their sides, laughing and making politically derogatory and incorrect statements as the Hall Executives flopped, forgetting that the incompetence and inefficiency of the Executives is a burden for all hallites.
To the present third semester students, be ashamed and wear sackcloth. You cannot and should not voice any displeasure with the way these organs discharge their duties. The third semester students were begged to participate in last Hall’s election – everyone had books to read, and we pray they all had distinction grades.
To our vibrant, ever-zealous, and ever-dynamic freshmen, break this mysterious cycle of ineptness. To your generation, much is expected of superior legacy of selfless action and work. “The present intensity of the sun is adequate to dry laundered clothing.” A luta continua, vitoria e certa.
Abdulsalami Abubakar Hall Press 