On July 4, 2025, RENARSA Press published an article headlined “Financial Minister Violates Constitution Fail to Publish First Semester Statement of Account”. This article brought to light a violation of Article III, Subsection III of the constitution of Renewable Natural Resources Students’ Association (RENARSA) by the Financial Minister.
The violated part of the constitution as reported in the RENARSA Press article is a duty of the Financial Minister. The constitutional duty that the Financial Minister failed to perform is found in Article III, Subsection III of RENARSA constitution. The duty is the submission and publication of the statement of account of the association three weeks before the commencement of each semester examination.
“Shall submit and publish the statement of account of the association three (3) weeks before the commencement of each semester examination.”
The article garnered diverse comments and reactions from Renarsaites. One of the reaction to the article is the wrongful interpretation of the article as an allegation of financial misconduct against the Financial Minister.
There is no evidence of financial misconduct by the Financial Minister and the article which is still available on RENARSA Press’ website did not claim to have evidence that could lead to indictment of the Financial Minister for financial misconduct. However, whether this constitutional violation can count as a case of financial misconduct against the Financial Minister is subject to the interpretation of the constitutional clause in question by the Speaker of RENARSA Students’ Legislative Council who possess the constitutional power to do so (interpret constitution).
“The Speaker has the power to interpret all the rules and provisions of this constitution in good faith in case of ambiguity especially matters on which the constitution is silent. Such interpretation or ruling, if need be, could be rejected by two-third majority of members present at the Congress.” Article IX, Section II of RENARSA constitution.
After the publication by RENARSA Press, the Financial Minister, Olusola Blessing in a chat with RENARSA Press informed RENARSA Press that as at the time of that publication, she has prepared the statement of account but was confused on how the statement of account would be published, as publishing it would mean making it available to the public.
The Speaker of the RENARSA SLC Sixth Assembly, Rt. Hon. Odunayo Adejuyigbe in the last sitting of the Assembly held on September 20, 2025 and interviews with RENARSA Press has commented that the statement of account of the association is a sensitive document that should not be made available to the public. This is evident that the term “public” is not defined contextually both in the constitution and it interpretation.
In the past, election guidelines set by Renewable Natural Resources Students’ Association Independent Electoral Commission (RENARSAIEC) has always mandate aspiring candidates to resign from their positions before obtaining nomination form and such resignation should be made public. These resignations were not made through a radio or television broadcast but rather through the WhatsApp groups associated with RENARSA. These WhatsApp broadcasts were always accepted as a form of public resignation by RENARSAIEC. This shows that context is very important when there is ambiguity.
It is commendable that RENARSA SLC Sixth Assembly is making efforts to address this ambiguity. The Constitution Review Committee of the Assembly has made a proposal to reword the violated clause of the constitution. The proposed revision of the clause provides a clear path to submission of the statement of account. The proposed revision read thus:
“The financial minister shall submit a statement account to RENARSA members through each constituency delegate three weeks before the commencement of each semester examination”
The proposed revision has contextually define “public” as members of RENARSA which will eliminate contextual ambiguity of the word in the future. Adopting this will reduce confusion for Financial Minister in the future.
Furthermore, it was deduced from the Financial Minister’s chat with our reporter, that the failure of past Financial Ministers to publish the statement of account or sending the statement of account to Renarsaites if context is applied and the lack of consequences for such contributed to the present Financial Minster’s continuation to the long lasting legacy of constitutional violation.
However, the precedent set by past Financial Minister’s is not enough reason to justify the constitutional violation of the incumbent. What ever the verdict is, the Financial Minister’s failure to publish the statement of account three weeks before the commencement of examination as stipulated in RENARSA constituion is a constitutional violation and will remain so till a revision is approved.
This is a call to constitution drafters to avoid ambiguity when drafting constitutions. Also office holders should look beyond the precedent set by their predecessor(s), fulfilling constitutional duties more than promised duties they put in their manifestos.
RENARSA PRESS UI 