Fwd: The need for accountability and transparency in NAA affairs

[Peter Obiefuna]

P

Begin forwarded message:

From: Ibraheem Haruna <ibra...@haruna.ca>
Date: 29 December, 2010 7:22:22 AM MST
To: Ngozi Ayeni <onyx...@gmail.com>
 
Subject: Re: The need for accountability and transparency in NAA affairs

Hi all,

Some suggestions have been made in this forum that i think are very good and reasonable.

Auditing of association account is required and thus we need to call in an auditor (Professional one) to audit the account immediately.

All payments to the association need to be properly recorded and receipt should be issued out to the payee. The association by now should have been a "Charitable Status Association" which means any payment is qualify for taxable receipt and will serve as donation.

The presence of police will not stop members from exercising their constitutional rights. We are all law abiding citizen and no one can harass us. My advise to members is, let's try to keep our anger to minimum level in order to achieve our ultimate goals. I know its hard to do, but let's please try to talk in low voices, no shouting, and let's push our points across. The voice of the people will prevail and the executives and members of BODs will have to respect members.

From what I've been reading, if the term of the executives are already over, then, there is need to elect caretaker committee and organize new election. If the constitution need to be amended to meet the majority demands, then notice to this effect need to be given and a constitution review committee will be constituted.

Thanks,

Ibraheem

On Tue, Dec 28, 2010 at 2:04 PM, Ngozi Ayeni <onyx...@gmail.com> wrote:

Dear Nigerians,

 

The present predicament of NAA affair has generated sincere desire from many of my fellow country men to proffer  lasting solutions. Different causes, ranging from youths overthrow of the present administration to tribal allegiance and loyalty, have been opined. These purported causes were not without suggested solutions. Some were of the opinion that the present leadership should be dissolved, while some held the view that the present imbroglio in NAA should be resolved in house. In fact, some held strongly the view that rotational leadership is the way to go.

 

But, amidst the present labyrinth network of confusion occasioned total disregard and disrespect for voices calling for sanity by the board of NAA, we must ensure that "WE DO NOT SWEEP A DIRTY ROOM WITH A DIRTHIER BROOM". This implies that we must understand how dirty the room is? I, Ayeni Joseph, will use this medium to shine light on some of the issues that need immediate clarification from the board of NAA

 

1) NAA has been collecting membership fee without issuing receipt or in some cases issuing recepit without NAA seal. This does not give room for accountability. 

 

11) NAA allegedly spent about $50000 (fifty thousand dollars) on Nigeria day 2010 alone. What of 2009 Nigeria day, Heritage etc. It will be good if the board of NAA will make the account of the association available for member who will like to inspect it.

 

111) There is a report that NAA is owning over $250000 (Two hundred and fifty thousand dollar) as loan to a bank in Edmonton under the present board of NAA. I think NIgerians deserve to know the thruth!

 

1V)  There is report that the present NAA board is trying to get more loan/line of credit to run the association.

 

V) Every association in Alberta is funded by AGLC every year to the tone of hundred of thousands of dollars (at least $200,0000/year; two hundred thousand dollars per year). How has our association spent all the money.

 

 

In light of these sensitive issues, I will like to call on all progressive Nigerians who believe we cannot run NAA in Canada the same way Nigeria is being ruled as a country, to join me in prevailing on the board of NAA to give the account of their stewardship. This will allow us to ascertain that all the issues raised above are not happening in our dearest association.

 

In accordance with Section VIII of NAA constitution, I demand that:

 

1) The board of NAA should make available to member the statement of bank account(s) of NAA for 2009 and 2010. The statements must be certified as original by the bank. This will allow Nigerians to see both the income and expenditure sides of their association's account(s) and also to tally such with any receipt(s) or invoice(s) make available by the board.

 

11) Up-to-date statement of loan account and line on credits on behalf of NAA should be made availlable for inspection by member.

 

111) The complete list of all the members of NAA should be provided. This will debunk the bogus argument of NAA president that some genuine voices of sanity are not members of NAA.

 

Dear Nigerians, anything less that these will fail the simple test of accountability and transparency. I'm not in anyway alleging any member of NAA board for any wrong doing, but the continous attempt by NAA board to use sentiment to derail the genuine call for accountability and transparency is a worrisome development. If NAA leadership were to be a volunteer work, why would the present board members continue to impose themselves on us despite the growing desatisfaction for them among Nigerians? On a final note, reliable sources have it that the board of NAA is planning to militarize the next NAA general meeting by inviting Edmonton Police. Though this is not new, it clearly shows the desperation of the present board of NAA to remain in power at all cost by all means. I have a message for the board, nothing will separate the voices of sanity not even the threat of Police invasion or the thick wall of prison.