Lawyers Slam NBA’s 17-Member Transition Committee, Compare It to Wasteful Practices of Nigerian Politicians
The outgoing NBA President, Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau, SAN, and the newly elected President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, have come under fire from lawyers for constituting a 17-member Transition Committee. Critics argue that the NBA is acting like Nigerian politicians and that such a large committee is unnecessary for a simple handover process.
One lawyer commented, “On both the side of the incumbent and the incoming, do we really need transition committees to achieve a handover? Ordinarily, the handover should be a simple exercise devoid of sophisticated protocols.” Another lawyer responded, “It’s a Nigerian thing, counsel. We always go this route, whether it’s sensible or not.”
A third lawyer expressed concern that the NBA was adopting the wasteful practices of national politics, stating, “Methinks the conventional effigy characteristic of our national politics should not infiltrate or clog the NBA processes.”
A senior lawyer pointed out that other countries, such as the UK, manage transitions without the need for committees. “Are we learning how to cut waste from other countries? A prime minister recently assumed office in the UK without any transition committee! A Transition Implementation Committee for the NBA. Some funds will be earmarked for the work of the Committee. Why is the NBA behaving like the political class in Nigeria?” The lawyer further noted that young students have started following in these misguided footsteps, referring to the appointment of 50 individuals for advisory roles by the first female President of the Student Union Government at the University of Calabar, Blessing Alims.
In response to the senior lawyer’s comment, another lawyer remarked, “Learned Silk, wastage is now cultural to Nigerians!”
It was also revealed that this 17-member committee is in addition to the Transition Committee already set up by the NBA President, making a total of 34 members. A source within the NBA told TheNigerialawyer that the committees were necessary to avoid blame for issues such as funds and other matters after the tenure. However, the source failed to provide an update on whether the members are going to be paid by the NBA.
