Give Students Snacks at AIPAS!’: Welfare Cost-Cutting Sparks Heated Drama at House Sitting

By Wonuola Mould and Akintunde Segun, Public Voice News Agency

Strong calls for transparency and fairness marked the recent parliamentary sitting of NAPAS.

The latest parliamentary sitting of the National Association of Public Administration Students (NAPAS) was filled with sharp discussions over financial matters and welfare plans for the upcoming AIPAS 6.0 program.

Things heated up when the Financial Secretary presented the executive budget report. Hon. Kanmi raised an early concern, asking whether it was right for the Financial Secretary to defend the report and also pointing out that some figures were not clear.

As more errors came to light and confusion spread, the Financial Secretary herself requested that the report be suspended. Justice Joel supported the move, citing disorderliness. He and Napasite Pelunmi jointly called for the report to be pushed to the next sitting. The House agreed.

The welfare committee of the AIPAS 6.0. later presented its proposed budget of ₦1,509,000 for the AIPAS event.

The Speaker asked if any funds were currently available. The President responded honestly, saying none had been received yet, though there was hope that funds would arrive soon.

Justice Joel then suggested replacing bottled water with sachet water for students, as a way to cut costs. His idea was met with resistance from Hon. Gallerian Theophilus, who said it would be unfair to give students sachets while guests enjoyed bottled water.

In the end, the Speaker gave a balanced decision:

Food will be provided for all students.
Sachet water will be given to students.
Guests will receive bottled water.
Student meal cost set at ₦2,500 (unless increased).
Five packs of bottled water for invited schools.
Lecturers meal budget set at ₦3,700 per.

While the House ended the sitting with a clear direction, the discussions made one thing certain: lawmakers are not taking financial matters lightly. Questions about transparency, fairness, and student welfare are now front and center in NAPAS decision-making.

The financial report will be revisited at the next sitting.

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