In line with the directive of the Ministry of Labour and Productivity, the National Association of Scrap and Waste Dealers of Nigeria (NASWDEN) has resolved its lingering leadership crisis with the emergence of a caretaker committee to oversee the affairs of the union in the next six months.
Addressing journalists in Abuja shortly after its general meeting, national president of the newly inducted care taker committee, Ibrahim Soja, said the union complied with the directive of the former minister of labour, Dr. Chris Ngige, to resolve the dispute.
Soja who spoke through the Akwa Ibom state chapter chairman and secretary of Thursday proceedings, Comrade Uwem Benson, said the committee comprised of the two factions which according to him was to restore peace in the union.
Also speaking, immediate past Secretary General, Comrade Stephen Obayuwana, said the emergence of Soja as caretaker committee chairman was the right step in the right direction.
Obayuwana stated that the formation of the caretaker committee was in conformity with the union’s constitution rule 11(a) section 34 and rule 17.5-7 stipulates the coming together of all interested parties.
He said the caretaker committee within their constitutional time frame of six months would convoke a national delegate conference to elect leaders from the lowest to the highest level.
Obayuwana stated that the committee within their term of office would be responsible to set up committees namely, constitution review committee, planning and budget committee, reconciliation committee amongst other committees.
Obayuwana said: “Today is a great day in this Union. Today, sections of our constitution, rule 11(a) section 34 and rule 17(5-7) were implemented and that sections talk about the bringing together of all interested parties.
“We had a general meeting today of all our members so that they can constitute a caretaker committee and by the grace of God, today we have complied with that and the chairman of that caretaker committee is His Royal Highness Comrade Ibrahim Soja, the Sarki Gidan Kwari.
According to the ex-secretary general, “It is expected that during his tenure the state councils will be dissolved and fresh election would be conducted within the period. It is also expected that during his tenure NASWADEN would have a new breadth.”
When contacted through phone call, the president, Mr John Igaji Obe, said to have superintended over a crisis-ridden union has dissociated himself from the caretaker committee.
He told our reporter that there could never be any meaningful change of baton in the union in his absence.
