By Emmanuel Afonne
The Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) on Friday inaugurated a six-man committee to review its constitution which has existed for 23 years.
Inaugurating the committee at the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) office in Jahi, Abuja, the NOC President, Habu Gumel, said the review was a fundamental requirement for good governance and best practices within the Olympic Movement Circles.
“The review is in consonance with the principles of the International Olympic Committee Charter, which is constantly reviewed from time to time to keep it updated,” Gumel said.
Gumel, who is also a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), said that the committee had seven months to deliver on its assignment.
He said that the review and amendment was to ensure that the NOC statutory instrument guided its operations, as well as meeting the demand of emerging trends in sports and the Olympic Movement.
He said that the terms of reference of the committee included to assess the potency or impact of the Nigeria Olympic Committee constitution as currently in force since 2001.
Others include to review the constitution and make recommendations for amendment (s) where necessary, in line with international best practices and the Olympic Movement.
“Your committee is to request major stakeholders in the Olympic Family, especially the National Sport Federations (OLYMPIC SPORTS ONLY) to submit memoranda or their contributions on the proposed amendment of the constitution,”.
Gumel urged the committee to liaise with the NOC secretariat for administrative support in the process of its assignment.
“You are free to give further advice or guidance that is necessary to support the constitution review and amendment process.
“Your committee is to produce and submit a draft copy of the constitution in review to the president of NOC for onward due process transmission to the Executive Committee, Executive Board, the General Assembly and International Olympic Committee, accordingly,” Gumel said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the six-member review committee is headed by Hussaini Garun-Gabbas, while Emmanuel Nweri will serve as the secretary.
Other members include Babatunde Fatayi-Williams, Prof. Mariam Suleiman, Emmanuel Agwu and Tunde Kareem.
Responding, Chairman of the committee, Garun-Gabbas pledged that the committee would deliver on its mandate by engaging necessary stakeholders.
Secretary General of NOC, Tunde Popoola, appreciated members of the Constitution Review Committee for the trust and confidence reposed in them over the course of the assignment. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
==========
Edited by Maureen Atuonwu