Reps criticise dissolution of boards of sports federation

chika ebuzor

May 11, 2017 4:21 AM

The sports ministry had also announced that elections into the federations have been postponed till June 13.

House of Representatives Speaker, Yakubu Dogara in Kaduna state

The House of Representatives on Wednesday criticised the dissolution of Boards of Sports Federations by Mr Solomon Dalung, the Minister of Youth and Sports.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the sports ministry announced the dissolution of the boards of all national sports federations.

The ministry also announced the postponement of election into the federations till June 13.

Reacting to the development, the lawmakers expressed their dissatisfaction when they considered a motion calling on the Ministry of Youths and Sports to postpone the planned election into sports federation boards and recall members of the boards dissolved.

The motion was sponsored by Rep. Ayodeji Joseph (Lagos-APC).

Leading the debate, Joseph explained that the ministry recently dissolved the boards of the various national sports federations and issued guidelines for elections into the federations.

“The guidelines provide that prospective candidates who had spent two terms of four years each would not be eligible to contest elections into the sports federations,” he said.

Contributing to the motion, Rep. Abubakar Adamu (Niger-APC) described the action by the ministry as an act of impunity.

He said the boards should be allowed to complete their tenure as such actions were negatively impacting on sports in the country.

“Wearing a uniform does not mean that you are a military man. This House stands for the Nigerian people and we stand to reject this impunity.

“This is wrong, being appointed a minister does not mean you will be there for four years. You can be removed tomorrow,” Adamu said.

On his part, Rep. Johnson Oguma (Edo-APC) while describing the decision of the minister as “executive rascality”, said that the House should ensure that “things are done accordingly”.

“The action of the minister is what I call executive rascality.

“The dissolution of these boards is to pave way for some people earmarked for these positions. They have prepared for those who will take over,” Oguma said.

Also Rep. Edward Pwajock (Plateau-PDP) said: “The action will enable the International Sporting Federation to slam ban on Nigeria.”

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On his part, Rep. Ayo Omideran (Osun-APC) said: “People who cannot run sports shouldn’t claim to be in charge.”

The motion was unanimously adopted by members when it was put to a voice vote by the Speaker, Mr Yakubu Dogara.

The House further mandated its Committee on Sports to investigate the ministry’s actions and check if it interfered with guidelines of electing the boards.

chika ebuzor