Delay in Queens Hall Package: the beginning of a new trend?

As the clock ticked to usher in the new year, everyone jubilated with a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment. To those that failed to leave the hall for their respective homes, they await their hall ‘package' with itching fingers on how the package will pacify their long waits.

Usually, hall packages are delivered before the beginning of hall weeks. Where it is delayed, it is shared during the hall week or immediately after. In the early days of December, 2021 most Queenites were optimistic that the Rebrand Team will not fall short in delivering quality package (since they have not failed to deliver since the beginning of the administration, despite the challenges). After the first two weeks of the month of December, the executives watched as the Hall Supervisor’s office became busier with the in and outs of Queenites as they signed out of the hall for the session. By the third week, rooms were getting emptied; a sign that it was already getting too late for the distribution of the hall package. Yet, there was no news or at least an explanation till on the 19th of December when a Whatsapp broadcast was made by the Rebrand Team. The bc reads,

‘Dearest Queen, we sincerely apologize for the delay with the availability and distribution of the Package and Shirt. We have had issues with the manufacturers for a while now and it is still being resolved. Plans are being made to ensure that every Queenite gets her package as it is due her. Please tell your floor reps to submit their lists, as that will aid the plans being made. Once again, we are deeply sorry that the package has taken this long.’

Despite the excuse that was made by the team, one cannot but question the timing. The long wait before this broadcast was made featured heightened rumbles of complain and the agitated faces of Queenites who were returning home with the thought that maybe their money had been wasted. Before the broadcast was made, Queenites from various quarters were beginning to question the organizational skill of the Rebrand Team. If the statement had been released earlier, there would probably have been a limit to the number of people that raised an eyebrow.

Blessing, a 200 level student, who claimed anonymity for her department expressed her frustration about the failure to get her package. She was also of the opinion that the executives only released an apology when Queenites began to ask questions.

‘I will first say it is very bad because I paid my dues and shirt fee since the beginning of the session and we had both first and second semester in which they should have planned all these things, not coming to tell us towards the time people were going home that they had issues with the person who was to supply them the package and stuff. This statement was made sef (sic) because people started asking for the package and shirt. If not, they would have just been silent over the issue which is not right. They didn’t feel the need to tell us or give us any explanation. It is very bad.” she concluded.

Ejiro, a 200 level student of Psychology will not sit around and keep hoping for a package that she had paid for since the hall opened. She did not waste time either in expressing how she really feels about it. She thinks “it was not planned well by the committee or the group of people handling the distribution because most Queenites have gone home and they won’t be able to get the package they paid for.”

Romlah, a 100 level student of the department of Educational Management, is genuinely disappointed because all she had heard about Queens Hall package from seniors fell flat. She might have been excited while paying for her dues and other souvenirs last session but this coming session would most likely not meet such camaraderie. She said that she is “so dissatisfied and not happy” because she has completely lost her trust in all the executives. On a norms and based on what she heard, Queens hall package is the best and always on time. However, she feels disappointed. She concluded by saying that “Nevertheless, the delay might be beyond their control. I pray it is rectified soon.”

Moving forward, the questions that require urgent reply are: What are the plans that have been put in place to ensure that every Queenite gets her package? When will the package be delivered? How well should we trust that plans are ongoing to ensure delivery when the ability of the executives to plan has been questioned?

While responding to one of the questions, Oyindamola, a 100level student of Anthropology and a floor rep of I Block, said that,

“A lot of people have been asking for their package especially those that paid for shirts. One person even saw me today and asked of it. I’m personally tired of explaining to them the main reason why the package has been delayed. Some people on my floor were actually angry for not getting their shirt before going home."

When asked if the executives had contacted her to explain the situation of things, she said no. However, the Public Relations Officer, Miss Nosakhare Ijebor had earlier requested for the list of the people on the floor.

Another floor rep for H Block, Glory, a 200 level student of Counseling and Human Development Studies, said that the executives did not contact her to explain the situation of things. “They just said the manufacturers have not delivered. I feel that it should have been done earlier to avoid issues because some people might not come back but they are entitled to the package because they paid. I just hope that it won’t cause issues next semester.” She concluded.

To cap it all, the Hall Chairperson, Miss Babatola Jesukemi, said that the packages are almost ready. “The books have been delivered. The other souvenirs are also being delivered in batches. From January, they are going to be available for pickup. The present executives are going to share them for a bit (sic) and then when we’re done giving the people that are available to collect theirs, we’ll drop the rest with the incoming administration to share when the school resumes for the new session.”

When asked about the exact period in January that the distribution will begin and how the package will be delivered to those who have graduated, she said;

“As regards those who have graduated, they will be in school in January to do their clearance. Some people still have stuffs to do in school and so we will be able to reach out to them.”

Reacting to this development, Esther, a 300 level student of the department of Anthropology said this is happening for the first time, so to her, it is understandable. She said she does not have a problem with the failure of the Rebrand Team to share package for Queenites as long as it will be shared when school resumes for a new session.

Drawing from the above statement, it can be seen that the Rebrand Team is not wary of introducing a wrong culture into the sharing of package to Queenites. The session is about to end, while the Rebrand Team is bound to hand over to new sets of executives without completing its mandate. This will pave way for a bad culture in subsequent administration; no doubt, the Rebrand Team will be remembered as the pioneer of this legacy.

Several Queenites have returned to their homes for the holiday, some have graduated while others are awaiting their Teaching Practice or Industrial Training, since the Rebrand Team has introduced a new system into the sharing of package, efforts should be made to ensure that the package do not fall short of standard. Also, they should avoid cutting to the chase by ensuring that everyone that paid dues gets a package. Only this way, will Queenites be pacified for the delay.