Engineers in Nigeria have resolved to unseat their President

The Extra Ordinary General Meeting held 27th June 2019 for the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) ended in Chaos. As, engineers across the south east and south south resolved to disassociate themselves from the activities of the national society. 

HOW DID WE GET HERE?

The Nigerian Society of Engineers is the umbrella organisation for the Engineering Profession in Nigeria. This society aims at enhancing high professional standard and ethical practices. However, since its establishment in 1958, there have been underlaying issues surrounding the Memorandum of Article (MemArt). Top on the list is the issue of rotational presidency. Apparently, 17 out of the 31 past presidents of the society have been from one region in the country. 

Past Presidents

Where as, there are Six Geo-political zones in Nigeria.

• South-East -5 states = (Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo)
• South South  – 6 states = (Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Rivers)
• South West – 6 states= (Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo)
• North East – 6 States = (Adamawa, Bauchi, Burno, Gombe, Taraba, Yobe)
• North-West – 7 states = (Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara)
• North- Central – 6 States = (Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nassarawa, Niger, Plateau)

In a bid to review the MemArt of the Society, Engineers from the South South and South East mobilised themselves in mass to attend the Extra Ordinary General Meeting (EGM). The plan being to vote for the review of the MemArt (download here) which is possible through a 75% affirmative majority. However, President Mokuolu frustrated their effort by stating that “He just found out while seating at the EGM that Council did not approve the Review on the MemArt”. In essence, making the review unconstitutional.

The big question is? Why did council call for an EGM to review the MemArt without ensuring due process. Why is the Council’s Chairman recognising a flaw while seated at the EGM? Why did He suggest a different voting mechanism before seeing the flaw? These look like concerted effort towards truncating the move by the South South and South East engineers. Who in fact, had solicited financial support from members to adequately mobilise for the meeting. 

Rotational leadership is a sensitive issue in Nigeria. This issue affects all areas of government, business and professional association. In essence, where there is need for leadership, there is also a need to rotate within the geo-political zones. That is why, government as well as businesses employ strategic plans in overcoming the challenge. Take for example,

Government: In the Niger Delta Development Commission, leadership is rotated to drive inclusion and discourage marginalisation. The commission is a government agency with a mandate of developing the oil-rich Niger Delta region.

Business: International Energy firms like Shell Nigeria whose operation cuts across the geopolitical zones in Nigeria, ensures that key leadership positions have competent people from the geopolitical zones.

CONSEQUENCES OF NON-ROTATION LEADERSHIP

Today, the accounting profession in Nigeria have two competing organisations for the control of Chartered Accountants in Nigeria. The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN) are the two professional accountancy association with regulatory authority in Nigeria.

The relationship between both associations have been tense leading to court judgements to settle disputes. Since establishment in 1965, ICAN failed to address the issue of rotational leadership to discourage margination and ill feeling. Accountants from the South East and South South were left marginalised in the activities of the association, hence paving way for the chartering of ANAN by Decree 76 of 1993. However, in November 2007, a “Federal High Court in Lagos dismissed a suit by ICAN requesting the court to declare that the decree establishing ANAN was void.”

This goes to show the sensitive nature of rotational leadership, and the resulting effect if unresolved. 

In these voice recordings, it is evident that the Engineers from the South South and South East have resolved to boycott the national engineering society. If not handled properly, the resulting effect will be the creation of a competing association. What do you suggest is the way forward? Leave a comment below.

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