By: Mercy Ojegbola
The students of the department of English Obafemi Awolowo university have expressed mixed reactions to the library restriction placed by the department’s executive council on students over departmental dues.
Recall that NCBOAU reported that the executive council of the department of english, obafemi awolowo university denied students who are yet to pay for departmental dues access to the department library even after the extension of the deadline. Students have since then expressed different reactions, while some appreciate it as a good attempt at prompting students to pay; others address the decision as “unreasonable”.
Mavellous, a 400 level student of the department, speaking with a correspondent of NCBOAU said that it is a two way thing, stating that the restrictions does not mean that students who have not paid will still pay. He added that many of those who have not paid are not making use of the library.
He also stated that the few who are yet to pay and possibly wanting to use the library for reading are disadvantaged if they are being denied access because of the majority noting that the punitive measures need to be toned down. “I think it is a good way but I still think they should tone down the punitive measures, it is kind of hard. My advice would be just that we all know that in the department, there are also other ways in which we could get things done, then I think the essence of blackmailing shouldn't be a way for them to pay their dues. If they have other ways, they should try and if they can’t find any other way by which they can get the money now, they will still have to just wait for their clearance. I think the library is not an ideal way of shutting them out of the benefits that they should have in the department.” He said.
Another student of the department who pleaded to remain anonymous stated that the idea of denying people access is unreasonable. She stated that; “There are other ways to generate dues. Using the library as a weapon is where they should draw the line. There are many people that pay dues, and they've never stepped their feet there. The library should be used without any strings attached.”
She further expressed her discontent with the current administration adding that she is disappointed. “This dues topic is a very sensitive one and I'm quite disappointed in the Sael led administration. Firstly it was said that should you misplace your receipt, you have to pay again. That's absurd. Now you have to be a financial member to use the library. How about they go ahead and cancel our memberships because we've not paid our dues. I have the money but I will not be forced into paying for what is supposed to be free” She said.
Theresa, a 400 Level student of the department of English, speaking on the issue said that the development is a good one stating that amongst other things, the dues are used for the maintenance of the library. “One of the things they use the dues for is to maintain the Library, get new books, fix things and stuff like that, so I actually think that it makes sense that only financial members are allowed into the library. Students who are saying they will still pay should pay now. What if they need money for other things, last semester the restroom was leaking and dropping inside the library, they had to fix it, the AC too. We can’t wait for a particular set to graduate and do clearance before we can have money to fix things in the department.” She added. She also mentioned that students who claim that their school fees cover everything should simply make use of the school's library and not the department's library.
Addressing the issue, the President of the department, Francis Ohacho, stated that the problem with the use of the library started with the bad maintenance of the library, complaints about missing books and rowdiness. “Can you imagine someone who has paid their due going to the library and can’t find a place to sit in the library? Whereas people who have been frequent defaulters as to their payment are there in the library..”
He stated that the restriction is one of the reformative strategies of Team Precision, to ensure that students of English are conscious of their compulsory affiliation with NASELS, stressing that most students tend to disassociate themselves. “If you don't pay the dues now, you shouldn't be entitled to what you stand to gain as a Naselsite”.
He also noted that it is constitutional that only financial members of the association should be entitled to departmental privileges stating that anyone who wants to pay during clearance should wait till then before using the departmental facilities. “Even the lobby, we are just being responsible for the fact that we don’t want to push away our people”. He said. “The fact that some people are coming up with some propagandist ideas about us blackmailing people into paying their dues is really funny” , adding that the payment of dues is students’ responsibility.
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