In a bid to ensure transparency in its electoral processes, chapter executives of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) agreed on Thursday that licensed members allowed to participate in the forthcoming association election must be certified members of a chapter who are duly cleared by the chapter chairman.
During a meeting called by the newly-appointed sole administrator of the association, Mr. Babatunde Mukaila, the chapter chairmen and executives reiterated the principle that ANLCA membership begins and thrives at the chapter levesl, in full alignment with the association’s constitution.
The objective of the meeting, according to the Sole Administrator was to lay the groundwork for a more streamlined and accountable approach to the impending National Executive Committee (NECOM) elections.
Speaking at the meeting, he took time to explain the roles of the chapter executives as outlined in the association’s constitution, drawing on his firsthand experience as the immediate past National Secretary of the association.
With an unwavering focus on fortifying the association’s internal framework, the chapter chairmen and executives unanimously emphasized the constitutional tenet that ANLCA membership originates and thrives within individual chapters.
A part of the resolution reached at the meeting was the collective appeal to the Association Electoral Committee (ASECO) to meticulously organize the membership list based on chapters, enabling each chairman to ascertain the genuineness of the member before the election.
The chapter executives noted that this decision is expected to provide greater clarity on the chapter affiliations of each member, simplifying the electoral process and ensuring a more informed voting experience for all participants.
The chapter executives also agreed that if ASECO finds it difficult to group the list of licensed members they have into chapters, they should communicate with the chapter chairmen to take ownership of their members in the already published list.
When asked by one of the chapter chairmen why the sensitization is happening just a few weeks before the election, Mukaila attributed the delay in discussions to the crisis in the association, but underlined that ANLCA’s commitment to seamless operations extends beyond election periods. Mukaila clarified that the upcoming NECOM election is distinct from ordinary elections, as it pertains solely to matters between the board and ASECO.
He said the resolutions put forth during the meeting are intended as proactive recommendations, designed to enhance the integrity and efficacy of the impending NECOM elections.
