Confusion over AFN Annual General Assembly as Congress members blast over disrespect, incompetence
There is confusion over the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN, Annual General Congress rescheduled for Saturday December 14, 2024, in Asaba, capital of Delta state after members of the Congress, the highest decision-making body of the federation, slammed the leadership of the AFN for treating them with disdain.
The AGC was initially scheduled to hold at the end of last month but was rescheduled less than 24 hours to the due date via a letter from the AFN, dated November 29 and signed by its Secretary General, Rita Moshidi.
No cogent and tenable reason was given for rescheduling the meeting and Congress members are worried the federation seems not ready to hold the AGC even on the rescheduled date following the nom-communication of the logistics of the meeting to the members.
‘Two days to the arrival date no update. These people have no respect for Congress and to themselves. What do you expect?
‘Can we please be updated concerning the congress please? It is good we have information on whether the congress will hold as scheduled or not.
‘My humble submission please,’ some members wrote on the WhatsApp platform strictly for members of the Congress.
These queries must have forced Ms Moshidi to attempt an update regarding Saturday’s meeting.
‘I am directed by the President to inform the house that the meeting will hold as scheduled. Furthermore, the venue of the meeting will be communicated to members later today, when the venue is secured,’ she wrote but some members expressed surprise a venue has not been secured for the meeting less than four days to the event.
‘Can you imagine. So, by today the venue of a Congress that is supposed to be annual is not secured in less that 4 days. Even at that a member has to prompt a request for update.
‘These gross incompetence and disrespect to Congress must stop. Anyway, there are many ways to deal with a rat without spilling blood,’ members responded to the letter from the AFN Secretary General.
It would be recalled that the Investigative Panel set up by the former Sports Minister to probe Nigeria’s negative exposure at the Paris 2024 Olympics labelled the AFN Secretary General as incompetent and recommended she should be sanctioned by the appropriate authority which is the National Sports Commission.
There are also worries article 6.1.4 of the 2017 AFN Constitution as amended or article 10.1.5 of the illegal 2023 Constitution which clearly stipulates that ‘all the documents related to the Congress (reports, programs proposal etc.) shall be sent to the Secretariat of each State member association at least thirty (30) days prior to the Congress.’
Members are worried this has not been done and could render all decisions taken at the meeting null and void if it is challenged in court.
They are also worried the Secretary General has not been writing minutes of meeting which is also a violation of article 10.5.1 of the illegal 2023 Constitution and article 6.5.1 of the 2017 Constitution (as amended).
‘The minutes of the Congress shall be sent to the State Associations and to the AFN Board Members by the AFN Secretariat, within a reasonable time frame following the Congress,’ states articles 10.5.1 and 6.5.1.
