The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) is set to hold its congress in Yola on Friday, but the event has been marred by controversy. Critics argue that the procedure adopted in convening the congress, the notice period given to members, and the conduct of board meetings all raise concerns about compliance with the federation's 2019 Constitution. The National Sports Commission (NSC) is being urged to intervene and ensure that the proposed congress complies with the federation's governing statute.
Article 20.2 of the NBBF Constitution provides for an Ordinary Congress to be held annually, as well as an Elective Congress in accordance with the prescribed constitutional cycle. However, critics argue that the federation has not held a congress for about three years, raising questions about compliance with this provision. This has sparked concerns about the legitimacy of the current process.
Another point of contention is the notice period for the congress. Article 20.4 requires at least 21 calendar days' notice of an Ordinary Congress, alongside the circulation of prescribed reports, financial statements, budget, and other relevant documents. Critics argue that the notice for the Yola Congress, sent by email on September 10, with September 25 fixed as the date of the meeting, does not satisfy the constitutional requirement.
The procedure for convening the congress has also been questioned. Article 20.5 sets out the procedure for convening an Extraordinary Congress following a written request by two-thirds of the members. It is alleged that only five of the 12 members of the NBBF Board took the decision to convene the congress, raising questions about the authority and procedure behind the decision.
The NBBF Board's meeting schedule has also been criticized. Article 21.9 requires the Board to meet at least four times every year, with at least one meeting in each quarter. Critics allege that this requirement has not been consistently observed, raising further questions about the validity of decisions purportedly taken by the Board.
Several members of the NBBF Board have also been allegedly excluded from the congress invitation, including Prof. Florence Adeyanju, Olumide Bamiduro, Adamu Deshi, Scot Nnaji, Olumide Oyedeji, and Suraj Yusuf. This has further intensified the disagreement over the process leading to Friday's congress.
With the Yola Congress scheduled for Friday, attention is now focused on whether the meeting will proceed as planned and whether the concerns raised over the constitutional procedures will be addressed before delegates assemble. The controversy comes at a time when the NBBF is facing a broader dispute over its governance and leadership structure.
Key points
- The NBBF congress has been criticized for alleged constitutional breaches.
- The National Sports Commission is being urged to intervene in the dispute.
- The legitimacy of the congress has been questioned due to concerns over the notice period and procedure adopted in convening the event.
