By Aliyu Baba Mohammed, Alawode Khalid, Abdulkadir Ahmad, Sani Liasu And Ayoola Yesirat Taiwo
The Caretaker Committee of National Association of Social Science Students (NASSS) has pledged to hold a free, fair and credible election in the forthcoming election of the Association.
The CTC who spoke through the public relations officer, Diplomat Luqman O. Akintunde stated this today while answering questions from ABU Campus Press Reporter immediately after the completion of the screening of aspirants at the Association's Secretariat in Faculty of Social Sciences.
Akintunde said the Association provided about fifty (50) slots for both the executive and parliamentary positions and about 97% successfully screened and cleared with only four aspirants left who were not able to appear before the screening committee due to health related issues. He said the issue of the remaining aspirants who have genuine reasons will be addressed appropriately before the election day.
He said despite that the CTC do not have a judicial committee that would listen to petition(s), the committee has put every necessary mechanism in place to ensure that all the aspirants have a level playing ground for free, fair, credible and transparent election that would necessarily raise any complaint from any of the aspirants.
"CTC does not have any judicial body that could listen to any election petition. Therefore, we are trying to avoid anything that could bring about a petition. So, it is our hope that there won't be any sort of Malpractices and/or irregularities that could prompt any petition from the candidates."
Diplomat Luqman stressed that all the candidates have promised to accept the outcome of the election in the spirit of sportsmanship whether it favors them or not. He added that no candidate should have the fear of irregularities or malpractices as mechanisms are in place to curb such.
He further advised the candidates not to jeopardize the efforts of those that will emerge winners while in office, but rather they should support their program and create a synergy to bring about a blueprint that would hasten or foster the development of the faculty in its entirety.
Luqman called on those that will be entrusted with the NASSS offices to live up to the expectations of the students by building on the developmental legacies of the current and past administrations of the Association. While also tasks them never to allow their academic performance to suffer from their participation in the Association's activities.
Some of the screened and cleared candidates who spoke to ABU Campus Press expressed their determination and commitment to bring more improvement to NASSS for the betterment of the students in the whole faculty.
Abdullahi Aliyu Ibrahim from the Mass Communication Department who is contesting for the office of the president promised to run an inclusive administration if elected president. He said inclusive governance is the key to bring key stakeholders for proper development.
"The power of Inclusiveness in bringing developments to people can never be overemphasized. If elected, my government will sue for effective communication that will bring all the stakeholders together for the benefits of NASSSITEs," he said.
Umar Umar from political science who is also a presidential candidate said pushing students for excellent academic performance will be the priority of his administration if elected president of the Association. He added that he will be ready to be a servant leader and carry out student centered projects to move NASSS forward.
He said, "academics will be the center of my administration because it is our primary essence of being here. I will love to lead as a servant to make NASSS greater."
On her part, Favour Ikanoba from Sociology who is aspiring for the office of the vice president one (VP1) advocated for inclusion and active participation of female students in academic and extracurricular activities of the faculty, university and the entire human society.
"The female students are not given opportunities to be involved in the system, I'll hereby be advocating for symposiums and seminars as well as entrepreneurship programmes and fight against vices surrounding the female gender."
She admonishes her fellow contestants to be fair and just before, during and after the election process, and should accept the outcome upon whomever emerges winner and work collaboratively to impact positively in the administration.
A contestant of vice president two (VP2) from Mass Communication Department Comrade Shekhinah Boyi pledged to improve Lecturers-Students relationship so as to create a good rapport between the two actors of the department. He said a healthy relationship between the lecturers and students is nonnegotiable because through this, the students could be able to lay their academic issues whenever they're experiencing one.
"A good rapport between students and lecturers of the faculty will be advocated for and students will see the essence of this relationship in their academic excellence. I mean, a good relationship between students and lecturers, not otherwise."
Haruna Musa from Mass Communication Department aspiring for the office of Public Relations Officer one (PRO1) stressed the need for effective communication in every human endeavor. He pledged to bring about effective communication between the association and the students of the faculty.
"If people do not understand an association or organization, it is wholly the fault of the Public Relations Officer of the association/organization as the case may be.
"I'm out on a mission to bring NASSS and its activities to the forefront of the NASSSITEs. Everything that will be happening in the association will be on the palm of every student in the faculty."
Other aspirants who spoke to ABU Campus Press include Muhammad Yasim Yahaya (financial secretary aspirant), Gabriel Adeniyi (Director of Sport aspirant), Suleiman Muhammad (Director of Social aspirant), Tajudeen Kayode, Ismail Abdul Azeez Bello, Gowon Precious, Lateefah Lashade and Sanni Liasu (PRO 2 aspirant), all promised a better service delivery to make NASSS great if elected into their respective offices.
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