EXCLUSIVE: ANLCA amends Constitution to reflect new tenures for Executive Officers

By Innocent Orok

Sequel to it’s December 2020 Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Board of Trustees election held in Owerri, Imo State by the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), the body has effected the decisions agreed at that meeting in it’s amended Supreme Constitution 2020.

The ANLCA in it’s emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held on Monday in it’s National Secretariat in Lagos State presented the amended version of the Association’s Constitution to it’s members amidst commendation by members.

The ANLCA ” AMENDED SUPREME CONSTITUTION 2020″ has major amenments effected on Sections 8,(a), 13 (d), number 6 and Section 22 (c,d).

In his opening address, the National Vice President of ANLCA, Dr Kayode Farinto who represented, the National President, Iju Tony Nwabunike inform the Association’s NEC members who came in from all sections of the country that ANLCA will implement the yearning of it’s members and that of it’s Supreme Constitution to the later without fear or favour. He reiterated that this regime is the only administration that has stuck to the strict compliance to the Association’s Constitution, saying that is the way to go for any association to survive.

In the new amendments, Section 8 : TENURE OF OFFICE OF OFFICERS,the older version reads: Unless as may be otherwise provided in any part of this Constitution (a) Every officer, to whom this Constitution applies, elected or appointed with the National President, shall vacate office at the expiration of FOUR (4) calendar years, while the Chapter vacates at the expiration of THREE (3) calendar years dating from the date of assumption of office of incumbent executives .Any such officer may be nominated to contest for re- election for another term of four or three year’s tenure depending whether it is a national or chapter office. PROVIDED ALWAYS that he or she shall not hold the same office for more than two terms.

While the new AMENDED VERSION 2020 reads:Unless as may be otherwise provided in any part of this Constitution (a) Every officer, to whom this Constitution applies, elected or appointed with the National President, shall vacate office at the expiration of FIVE (5) calendar years, while the Chapter vacates at the expiration of FOUR (4) calendar years dating from the date of assumption of office of incumbent executives, PROVIDED ALWAYS that he or she shall not hold the same office for more than one term.

SECTION 13:BOARD OF TRUSTEES
NUMBER 5 : FUNCTIONS (d) the old Constitution states ” Appoint members of the Association Electoral Commission to be ratified by the National Executive Council and monitor all elections”

NUMBER 6:TENURE: ” A trustee shall hold office a term of six (6) years, unless re-elected . Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, a member of the board shall be removed if,,,,.

While the new AMENDED VERSION 2020 reads, SECTION 13:BOARD OF TRUSTEES, number 5 : FUNCTIONS (d) ” Recommend members of the Association Electoral Commission
(ASECO) to be ratified by the National Executive Council and monitor all elections”.

NUMBER 6:TENURE: ” A trustee shall hold office for a term of six (6) years, PROVIDED ALWAYS that he/she shall not hold office for more than one term.

While in Section 22 of the amended Constitution 2020,the Association further reduces the powers of the board on election matters which is believed to be the persistent bickering and infighting between the National Executive and the BOT.

In the old Constitution under SECTION 22, ELECTIONS (c) A body to be known as the Association Election Commission (ASECO) is hereby established. It’s members shall be appointed by the Board of Trustees to conduct the elections. ASECO shall in collaboration with BOT have the powers to fix the election fees and timetable.

On the contrary, the AMENDED VERSION 2020 (c) states – The election Commission (hereafter referred to as ASECO) shall have a Chairman who shall be the RETURNING OFFICER.

With the successful amendment of the ANLCA Supreme Constitution, the Tony Nwabunike led NECOM of ANLCA has recorded another milestone in repositioning the foremost Customs Brokers association in Nigeria for effective and efficient leadership structure.

Some chieftains of the association also believed that with the holistic amendment of the contentious sections of the Association’s Constitution which often pitch the Executives against the board, most of the crises in the ANLCA will be over.