We Frown At The Increment Of Departmental Charges In The Department Of Accounting- OAU WIKILEAKS

28th May, 2016 Press Statement OAU WIKILEAKS WE FROWN AT THE INCREMENT OF DEPARTMENTAL CHARGES IN ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT *For an end to personality clashes *For a robust Constitutional amendment to reduce the power of Departmental Executives *For a plan aimed at broadening departmental funds This Press release was precipitated by several complaints we received from the prestigious Accounting department as there were several arguments in the Department Whatsapp groups with some figures in the department launching vitriolic attack on some students for airing their opinion on the recently hiked departmental charges which is to the chagrin of some students in the Department.
According to a release dated 27th May, 2016 signed by Honourable Ajayi Emmanuel, the Speaker of the Parliament of Accounting Department, the Departmental excos increased the annual dues of fresh students from #2600 to #2800 while that of stale students was also increased from #800 to #1000.
We are fully aware that the departmental leadership hinge the reason for this unforseen increase of annual dues on high price of commodities in the market. This reason is not only ridiculous but insalubrious. This reason is untenable and cannot be justified given the fact that the same departmental leadership that suddenly convene a parliamentary sitting never take it in to consideration that there is depressed growth in the country including the fact that many state government are owning the working class salary which is the constituent of some of the students. Currently, workers in Ekiti state are on strike over five months unpaid salary by the state government, the same can be said in Osun state where the state government is also owning up to 5 or 6 month salary, Ondo and Oyo state and other part of the federation cannot be excluded out of this sad development. This now bring the fundamental question: where will students get money when their parents are not paid?
The monumental looting and financial recklessness which characterized several department last semester with Accounting inclusive cannot be easily forgotten .It cannot be easily erased in the memory how a part one constituency in one of the Department in the faculty of Social Sciences invite their excos for probe. Though, not much success was recorded as regards this as stakeholders in the department averred that only a Congress or parliament can summon excos for probe. This singular action shows the consciousness of students but it need to be consistently repeated across all faculties to keep departmental leadership on their toes for prudent management of financial resources even as serving students is not in the hearth of many anymore. The financial war chest accruable from departmental dues is the nitty gritty for some.
Given the population strength of the Department, increment of dues is not even expected as that can be used as bargaining power during negotiation to purchase commodities as asserted by the excos. Even as students trained in some aspects of forensic accounting, we expect that the leadership of the department work on plugging any financial leakage in the department especially that of the previous administration and channnel it to the need of students instead of increasing dues. We also expect that as trained Accountants in the making, they should work on broadening the department revenue by liasing with external bodies, this itself can promote the image of department more in the process.
We also use this medium to call on the departmental leadership to review the increment as the reason for the increase of annual dues is untenable and unjustifiable at all and at the same time we equally call on figures in the department to sheath their sword and embrace dialogue. We also use want to use this medium to advocate that the funds generated should be channelled towards sensitising the students by organizing seminars, oratory skills and enlightening symposiums, rather than just distributing a mere past questions and jotters livid at the back with pictures.
We equally use this medium to advise students to participate actively in the activities of the Union and that of their department as this is the only way their grievances can be felt. A situation whereby some people will suddenly convene a sitting without subjugating it to democratic process does not augur well for a burgeoning democracy like ours. Things have to change, and by way of this, students should call for the review of their departmental constitution to reduce the power of some perceived stakeholders and restore equilibrium. And finally, various department should always take the cries of the sons of perdition and the daughters of the Philistine in to consideration before making decisions as without students, there is no department. Signed, Moshood Odunayo Olajide Convener Signed, Abdullahi Olakanmi Secretary