COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (NEC) MEETING OF SPORTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (SWAN) HELD FROM JANUARY 7-9, 2024 IN UYO, AKWA IBOM STATE News

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COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (NEC) MEETING OF SPORTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (SWAN) HELD FROM JANUARY 7-9, 2024 IN UYO, AKWA IBOM STATE

By Daily Sports Nigeria on January 12, 2024

Consequent upon the refusal of the President, Mr. Isaiah Benjamin, to call for a physical NEC meeting as demanded by the majority of NEC members owing to critical issues concerning the Association and having satisfied Article 15(c) of the SWAN Statute that mandates NEC members to call for meetings whenever the need arises, the Deputy President, Otuekong Bonny Nyong presided over the meeting following a resolution by members.

Following exhaustive deliberations, NEC resolves as follows:

1. NEC frowns at the suspension of the North West Vice President, Muhammad Mansour Ibrahim, without regard for due process in line with Article 21(1)(C) and therefore declares the suspension null and void.

2. NEC views the appointment of Lurwanu Idris Malikawa as National Ex-Officio by Isaiah Benjamin as an error and resolves that it contravenes Article 13(d)(1) and therefore, declares it null and void.

3. NEC calls on all the Vice Presidents to ensure that members in their zones revalidate their membership with the Association on or before the end of March 2024 and urges state chapters to channel communications appropriately.

4. NEC resolves to support the 2024 revalidation of five (5) members per chapter and endorses the commencement of the payment of monies generated from the annual registration/SWAN card exercise.

5. NEC urges the National Secretariat to ensure that elections are conducted in line with SWAN Statute. It also agrees that there is no legally constituted executive in Ogun State and calls on the South West Vice President to immediately liaise with the National Secretariat to address the situation.

6. Following allegations of serious infractions on the Statute by the President and exhaustive deliberations, NEC suspends Isaiah Benjamin as President to enable thorough investigation; for which a 3-member Independent Investigation Committee (IIC) headed by Nura Garba as Chairman, Olatutu Oladunni as Secretary and Foster Chime as member, was set up.

These infractions are: (a) Constituting himself, the Secretary-General and non registered members of the Association into a National Executive Committee, and paying courtesy calls on personalities such as:

(i) The Honorable Minister of Sports.

(ii) The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Sports

(iii) And, the Governor of Kogi State.

Without regard for legitimate members of NEC. These are breaches of Article 8, d(i) & (ii), and Article 6 C(ii) & D(i).

(b) Appointment of unregistered individuals into committees to carry out SWAN assignments; thereby contravening Article 6, particularly 6, g(iii)

(c) Approval and recognition of the Ogun State Executive Committee (SEC) without regard for the provisions of Article 13, a(i) & (ii)

(d). Receiving money on behalf of the Association and acting in flagrant disregard for the office of the Financial Secretary; failing to disclose same and appropriately disbursing to those such funds were meant for. A case in point was the sum of Nine hundred thousand naira (N900,000.00) received from the immediate past President, thereby violating Article 11, f(ii),& g(i).

(e). In addition, the President lacks the temperament and has demonstrated inconsistency and incompetence in the management of the Association, particularly the NEC Viz:

(i). Lack of knowledge of the Statute: This has led to dragging the office of VPs into disrepute and deliberately employing divide and rule tactics, thereby polarizing the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Association, in violation of Article 11, a, c & d.

(ii) High-handedness: Arbitrarily undermining the Office of Vice Presidents by directing the state chapter chairmen to ignore the statutory process of communication; against the provisions of Articles 8,e (ii & iii) and 11a.

(iii) Lack of transparency in handling the Association's funds: As a new administration, it's expected that before applying inherited funds from a previous administration, the exact amounts across banks should be declared to NEC for proper records and approval for utilization on profitable ventures in line with Article 17(f). To date, Mr. President has failed to carry out this statutory responsibility.

(f). Arbitrary removal of a serving Vice President of North West from all SWAN WhatsApp platforms and unilaterally suspending the VP without regard for Article 21(1a & c).

(g). Arbitrarily appointing an Ex-Officio member and unilaterally approving and admitting same as a member of NEC without regard for Articles 13(d) & 23(f).

(h). Continuous flagrant disrespect, disobedience, and disregard for the statutory positions of constituted majority of the National Executive Committee (NEC) members on issues bordering on the state of the Association without regards for Articles 10(a) & 15(c).

7. NEC mandates the Investigative Committee to conclude its assignment within 90 days and submit its report to the National Secretariat.

8. NEC directs the Deputy President, Otuekong Bonny Nyong, to take over as President, pending the outcome of the investigative committee.

9. NEC undertakes to sponsor five (5) members to the Africa Cup of Nations taking place in Ivory Coast and approves the activation of the SWAN Foundation for the welfare of members.

10. NEC commends the Akwa Ibom State Government for providing the platform for the meeting and its numerous efforts in promoting sports development, particularly the hosting of Super Eagles matches.

11. NEC commends the Sports Minister, Senator John Owan Enoh, for the pragmatic steps taken so far to enhance comprehensive sports development in Nigeria.

12. NEC observes a minute silence in honour of our departed colleagues, Sammy Barida from Bayelsa State, Mr. Ignatius Ajuonuma from Lagos State and Villian Murray from Adamawa State and prayed God for the repose of their souls and grant the respective families the fortitude to bear the loss.

E-signed

Communiqué Drafting Committee

Augustine Ajayi

Chairman

Azuka Chiemeka

Member

Ijeoma Peter Nwante

Secretary

Authenticated by:

Olalekan Ige

Deputy Secretary General

Source Daily Sports Nigeria

Posted January 12, 2024