The Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) on Wednesday inaugurated an interim administration to steer the affairs of the association after sacking the Tony Iju Nwabunike led National Executive Committee (NECOM) whose tenure it said expired since April 16, 2022.
Consequently, the Board led by Alh. Taiwo Mustapha has named Mr. Pius Ujubonu as interim President of the Association with immediate effect.
Other members of the interim national executive are, Jamiu Adeyinka as acting Vice President; Joe Sanni, acting Secretary; Francis Ituah as acting National Publicity Secretary; Alhaji Usman as Treasurer and Waheed Gbadamosi as the acting Financial Secretary.
Speaking at the national secretariat of the association in Lagos, Mustapha said the Board as the custodian of the association took the decision to end the untold hardship which the leadership crisis has brought on members.
He charged the new national leadership of the association to ensure fairness, transparency and uphold the constitution in the running of the affairs of the association.
He said, “It’s been four years since we have been on this. The Tony Iju-led NECOM illegally extended its tenure by one year.
“The Tony Iju-led NECOM tenure ended on the 16th of April, 2022. However, due to their refusal to vacate office after their tenure had elapsed, they have left the BOT of ANLCA with no other choice than to dissolve the NECOM.
“An interim NECOM will take over the affairs of the association for the next three months or six months, depending on when they fully round up their transition period.
“Even though the BOT is empowered by the constitution of the association to run the affairs of the association for six months, we will rather be transferring that responsibility to the interim National Executive. This is in line with section 13(C) of the ANLCA constitution.”
Earlier, a former President of the association and Board member, Ernest Elochukwu, who led members into the secretariat said the takeover of the secretariat by the Board was done constitutional as nobody should misinterpret the action as an act of hooliganism.
Maintaining that the secretariat building belongs to all members, Elochukwu said, “We are not hooligans. What we have done is to takeover what belongs to us. ANLCA secretariat doesn’t belong to an individual but association; and we are the association,” he said.
While charging the new administration to follow the constitution, Elochukwu maintained that “what we have done is not the end. The ousted executive members will come up with resistance but the interim administration should be resolute as the Board and all members are solidly behind them.”
In his acceptance speech, the new acting President of ANLCA, Mr Pius Ujubonu, promised to steer the affairs of the association with fairness and equity.
In his words, “It’s been four years since we have been battling this tenure elongation issue. The constitution says four years for national executives and three years for chapter executives, but the Tony Iju-led NECOM refused to vacate office after their tenure lapsed in April.
“What is happening today is a watershed and I can assure all members of ANLCA that it’s a new dawn. We will run and manage the affairs of the association with transparency and fairness.
“Gone are the days when the association will be put under lock and keys for weeks. All ANLCA members are enjoined to henceforth start coming to the National Secretariat of the association. The building belongs to all of us. It’s not the property of any single individual.”
