Fire Outbreak in Zik Hall, Residents Blame Faulty Circuit Breakers and Negligence
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The Nnamdi Azikwe Hall Press Organization is located in the University of Ibadan. In Zikpress, we are committed to playing our role as the watchdog over the political activities of both the Zik Hall government and the University of Ibadan Students Union (UISU) with our pen of truth constantly wielded in valor. As an organization under umbrella of the Union of Campus Journalists, UI (UCJ'UI), we are committed to not only penning the truth about Zik Hall, but to the whole U.I and beyond.
Labels: fire outbreak, News, zik Hall, Zikpress
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Labels: National Grid, Satire, Zikpress
The 6th Assembly of Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall ratified seven hall residents as members of the Constitution Review Committee on Sunday, November 24, during an emergency sitting.
Speaking with ZikPress, Rt. Hon. Adetunji emphasized the archaic nature of the existing constitution and the urgent need for its review. “As we all know, the constitution is supreme. The last time the Zik Hall constitution was reviewed was in 2018, and much has changed since then. The current constitution lacks detailed provisions for certain situations in the hall, which has occasionally resulted in conflicting interpretations and interests,” he explained.
Rt. Hon. Adetunji further noted the absence of an Electoral Act in the current constitution, a significant shortcoming that the committee intends to address.
The ratified Constitution Review Committee, chaired by Onadele Joshua, a 400-level law student, comprises the following members:
Joshua Onadele assured the assembly that key issues, including the lack of an Electoral Act, would be addresed in the revised constitution. He also promised that the updated constitution would be finalized before the next Zik Hall election.
Labels: 6th Assembly, News, Zikpress
By Kolawole Oluwagbenga
The University of Ibadan Student Representative Council today, 25th of April , 2024, organized a Legislative Summit in conjunction with the speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin.
The summit themed "Roles of quality legislation in nation building" had in attendance representatives from about 65 institutions from the Southwestern part of Nigeria and from Kwara state also had dignitaries like the governor of Oyo state, Seyi Makinde, the President of the 13th senate of the federal republic of Nigeria, Bukola Saraki, who was ably represented.
Other dignitaries like the Federal minister of Youth (state), secretary to the Oyo State government, Professor Adeyemo, among other political personalities and members of state houses of Assembly in the South western part of Nigeria were present at the event.
The event which was held at the International Conference Centre also featured technical paper presentations and panel discussions on various topics such as "Understanding the need for quality legislation", "Tools and impact of lawmakers in the society", among others.
Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin in his keynote address revealed that the purpose of the summit , to encourage student representatives and other students to critically analyse the impact of existing legislation and also to educate Students on the legislative process.
The summit continues tomorrow, 25th of April, 2024.
Labels: News, Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall, University of Ibadan, ZHPO, Zikpress
Labels: News, Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall, University of Ibadan, ZHPO, Zikpress
Labels: News, Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall, University of Ibadan, ZHPO, Zikpress
Faith Adediran
The University of Ibadan Students' Union's Students' Representatives Council held an emergency sitting on Friday, 12th of April 2024 to make resolutions in response to the recent increment of the Bundled Fees of the incoming fresh students of the university.
In the sitting held at the SRC Chamber of the Students' Union Building that lasted for 5 hours, there were several suggestions on the way forward of the union in response to the increment. One of the major suggestions was made by Hon. Chris Aquah, a representative of Ayodele Falase Postgraduate Hall demanded that the action of the union against this increment should better be done through the congress and make effective decisions and actions.
Also, Hon. Akinola Emmanuel, representing Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall demanded an adequate timing of the actions. "... to avoid the failure that came out of the last congress that was held after many students had paid the laboratory and studio fees, all our actions (call for congress, call for media presence, parents and alumni body) should be done before Monday because once the portal is opened on Monday, and a fresh student has made the payment, it will be difficult to proceed with our actions", he stated.
After suggestions back and forth on the agendum, Hon. Babatimehin Peace moved a motion for the call of congress on Saturday, 13th of April, 2024 (4pm) subject to the resolution of the council. Thereafter, the motion was put to vote behind a closed door (without the presence of the Press and observers). However, it was later confirmed by the Zikpress from the Clerk of the house, Hon. Odu Faith Eniola that the motion did not pass after it was put to vote by the council. A new motion was then moved by Hon Afọlábi, a representative of Ransome Kuti Hall for the call of congress on Tuesday, 16th of April, 2024 and it was seconded by Hon Fabiyi Caleb from Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall. This motion was passed by a simple majority of the council.
Labels: News, Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall, University of Ibadan, ZHPO, Zikpress
By Sailor
In every thriving society 'Security' is a premium requirement. It entails taking preventive measures to reduce vulnerabilities, minimizing risk and taking remedial actions where prevention fails.
Security measures enhance safety, prevent incidents, protect property, and contribute to the overall well-being of individuals and communities. Without proper security measures in place, businesses risk losing their valuable assets to theft or damage and this has been a reoccurring case in Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall of residence.
The Weakness of the Defense Team
In Zikhall, the onus of security lies on the doorstep of the Defense council to provide a modicum of security and protection around the hall, bringing a sense of safety for the members of the hall. But it must be said the efforts of the Defense team led by the Defense minister, in the person of Eda Oluwaferanmi has left so much to be desired, with the porous state of security and policing within the hall.
The post of the Defense Minister is not really by Democratic practice, but rather by 'Appointment', as most of, if not all the past Defense Ministers were selected from the Defense organization of the hall, with the election process being a mere formality and rubber-stamp of the whole program. The case of Oluwaferanmi Eda, is no different, as he was hand picked by the Defense council to stand as the next man up for the job.
Although it is a common practice in Zikhall that the Defense Minister be a member of the Defense team and he can only be chosen by the members of the team, it begs the question, why do we need their names on the ballot box?, as they're constantly handpicked and running unopposed. Which makes it difficult to gauge their popularity among Zikites and lend little credence to the practice. That is a discussion for another day. Today we focus on the tenure of Oluwaferanmi, so far as the defense minister, the promises he churned out during his manifesto and how far he has gone to accomplish his planned out objectives.
Failure to Actualize Constitutional Duties
Firstly, a look at the Zikhall constitution gives us an insight into the roles and duty of the Defense Minister. Like it is stated in the constitution, the Minister of Defense shall be in charge of all security affairs, he shall be the Chief Investigative Officer of the Hall and he shall be a member or has been a member of the military, paramilitary or a vigilante group. Although it is not known that Mr. Eda is a part of the military or any Paramilitary group, but as a part of the Zikhall Defense team, he qualifies as a member of a Vigilante group.
In Terms of the hall's security affairs, it must be said that Feranmi performance has not really lived up to expectation considering the fact that there was very little expectations coming from this side. This session has highlighted a great lapse or lack of security and vigilant monitoring of the hall by the defense team, with so many theft being reported with the stealing of the solar power and panels installed in the halls reading rooms standing as a major example.
Earlier at the start of the first semester, a few days into the resumption of the new session, it was reported that the Solar light and panel installed in reading rooms by the previous administration in blocks B and C have been stolen and vandalized by unsuspecting assailants. This highlighted the first breach in the security of the hall, as a project which was actualized a few weeks to the end of the previous administration was easily lost to theft and there was no Intel or information on how it happened. That should have been an eye opener for the Defense Minister and his team of Defense council, and spur up proper security to monitor and stop events like this from happening in future, but alas that would prove to only be tip of the iceberg.
Another incident that highlights the poor security in the hall is the regular theft of electricity cables in the hall. From the pumping machine cable that was stolen from D block at the start of the second semester, to the constant electric cable theft in the hall, resulting in constant lack of electricity on these floors.
It was no surprise, when the Hall warden earlier in the year, on the 12th of January, 2024, had to share a broadcast to the hall's groups, galvanizing the students to be more security conscious about the constant case of cable theft that had become prevalent in the hall.
In his words
"...I need to inform us of the need for us to be more security conscious in the hall. There have been cases of theft in the recent time. Cables were stolen and pump wires were cut at some points.
This morning, I was in front of D block around some minutes past 8 and I saw one person with our ladder coming from Independence hall. And fortunately one of the supervisors met him in front of my office, dropping the ladder. He challenged him, asking him who authorised him to carry the ladder, he began to stammer that he went to use it somewhere. Before we know it he started to run away, eventually students ran after him but he escaped through the Bush at the back of C block.
I also heard that a surface pump and wires were stolen in Independence hall.
With this, if you see a strange person, challenge him or call the supervisor around. Let us protect our property
Thank you."
Just recently, last week thursday to be precise, The Hall warden had to come out again to post a special announcement to the Hall groups, regarding another case of theft of two circuit breakers in the box that feeds C Block's extension causing the affected rooms not to have electricity, until the box is fixed, and with the stolen items replaced.
This and many more have been the case of multiple reported cases of theft and thieves moving freely around the hall with little or no proactive measures taken by the Defense Minister and his team to rectify this situation. It begs the question, what is the job and main prerogative of the defense team? Is it only to raid for hot plates, like they did at the close end of last semester? or to try and provide a solid security vigilant network that should stop the constant theft of the hall's resources and structures which eventually affects the effective running of the hall as a whole?
Manifesto Promises and Failures
Most times politicians just put what will sway the populace in their manifesto, and not what is actually viable and can be actualized. Such is the case of Mr. Eda, who even his manifesto did not contain more than two objectives, failed to actualize none of it.
Oluwaferanmi, in his manifesto, reiterated his desire to build upon the existing structures and procedures that we have within the Zik Hall defense team to see to the effective and timely policing of the hall by the Zik hall defense team. But that is still up for discussion as there has been little in terms of policing and security within the hall. He also alluded to having at least three members of the defense team on each floor for effective policing and security has achieved little to no result, with the result up to the jury.
His second objective as read on his manifesto, says "To work together with the incoming administration to help tighten the security within the hall by pushing for the installation of catchers and Internal locks within all rooms in the hall. It is better to have structures in place that further help secure properties within each room, as prevention we know is better than cure." This has been an absolute hoax as most of the rooms in the hall are left with no catchers or lock to safeguard these rooms. Most students have to fend for themselves in these areas to provide this basic security for themselves. This is just another case of promising what you can't achieve just to sway the people.
He also pointed out his plans to train the defense team by the UI Man O' war group, another plan subject to scrutiny as there had been no such programme organized for the Zikhall Defense team at the time of writing this report.
In a simple conclusion, It must be said that apart from his constitutional duties where he came up short, Oluwaferanmi's innovative intervention to curb the ills of the hall, such as smoking, vandalism and theft — that have become rampant within the hall in recent times, have showcased the incapability of him and his team to arrest the situation, leading to a failed and lackluster tenure as the Defense Minister and chief security officer of Nnamdi Azikiwe hall. And it must be said that many might view the role of the Defense Minister as a minimal part of the Executive body, but it plays vital role in actualization a thorough process of administrative function of the hall, and so a failure in this part of the executive body will only spell doom for the society as a whole, as it has been with the case of the Zikhall. It is no gain saying that security should be placed at the top of priority in every administration in order to have a smooth management of the hall as a whole.
Labels: Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall, Political Review, University of Ibadan, ZHPO, Zikpress