The House of Representatives, on Thursday, reversed its motion calling on the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports to postpone the planned elections into the National Sports Federations and recall members of the boards that were dissolved.
While explaining reasons for the rescind of the decision, the House in a motion pursuant to Order Nine Rule 1(6) of the Standing Orders of the House, moved by Rep. Ahmed Kaita (APC-Katsina) explained that emerging facts regarding the reforms being undertaken by the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports to democratise the leadership of the national sports federations.
News Agency of Nigeria quoted him as saying that the reform was also to ensure that each federation produced its constitution, remove endemic corruption, and reposition the sports sector for development and maximum performance.
“The ministry requested the federations to submit copies of their constitutions but only five federations complied.
“This led to the decision of the ministry and the Nigeria Olympic Committee to develop guidelines by which elections would be conducted into boards of all such sports federations.”
The lawmaker expressed concern that the facts of the matter were misrepresented which led the House into taking a wrong decision.
He said that the decision was to stop an electoral process initiated by the ministry to bring about fairness, transparency and accountability in the administration of sports in Nigeria.
He added that the facts and details revealed the good intentions of the ministry to reform the sports federations through a successful transition process.
The ministry’s move of democratising the federations and providing credible leadership is to meet the yearnings and aspirations of sports loving Nigerians.
News Agency of Nigeria recalled that the ministry had dissolved boards of the national sports federations and directed the secretaries to run their affairs during the process of the elections.
Following the dissolution, the House, on May 10, passed a resolution calling on the ministry to postpone the planned elections into the boards.
The House recalled all members of the boards.
It also mandated its Committee on Sports to investigate the Ministry for interfering and issuing the guidelines for the conduct of elections into the sports federations.