For the past weeks now, I have been inundated with lots of questions concerning the ESUT SUG election 2024/25 session. And addressing the constitutionality of the issue would obviously be to the interest of the comity of students, since it would enlighten not just the potential aspiring Students leaders but also the Student Community and the general public who are eagerly waiting for the election period in the school which is usually a very interesting time in Enugu State.
As encapsulated in Section 30 (8) of the SUG constitution, ‘the election of the arms of the Students Union Government shall take place within the five weeks of the first semester’. This section of the Union’s constitution has stated categorically the period in which the election shall take place.
More so, the constitution is supreme and binding as stated in section 1(2) of the constitution, ‘without prejudice to the laws of the Country, the rules and regulations of ESUT, if any other(s), directive(s) of anybody, authority or arm under the Union is inconsistent with the provisions of this constitution, this constitution shall prevail, and such law(s), directive(s), or action(s) shall to the extent of its (their) inconsistency be null and void and of no effect.
However, it should be noted that certain circumstances could change the dictates of the constitution. If implementing the provisions of the constitution to the letter would mar the overall interest of the students and the University, the University Management is entitled to make a change or a little amendment to the provisions of the constitution. This position is captured in section 1(3), ‘Thus, nothing in this constitution shall prevent Enugu State University of Science and Technology, the Senate or the Vice Chancellor from making regulations for the purpose of controlling Students Union activities within the University and the Constituent campuses’.
Sequel to the foregoing, it cannot be said that the school management is acting arbitrarily to the Union’s Constitution as being speculated. It is seen that the School management is acting within the confines of the Union’s Constitution and in accordance with the school calendar for the best interest of the students, though such is not going down too well with expectant students who are left in a topsy state, and are seriously worried over the disenfranchisement the delay would likely occasion for some students.
Conspicuously, proper communication and unabridged flow of information is really required from the authorities and the Students leaders to the students, for proper awareness so as to alleviate the growing tempo and uncertainty within the students and the general public.
~Dona Okolieuwa, Emeritus SUG President of ESUT.
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