ABUJA, NIGERIA– The Federal Ministry of Education has stopped a scheduled national election of the National Parents Teachers Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN), pointing out supposed breaches of the association’s constitution.
Adeolu Ogunbanjo, Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of NAPTAN, revealed this in a declaration on Wednesday in the middle of a continuous leadership difference within the association.
The advancement followed disputes between factions over the management and administration of the parents’ association, with competing groups taking various positions on the proposed election.
According to Ogunbanjo, the election arranged to hold on Monday in Abuja by the faction led by Haruna Danjuma and Ekundayo Ademola was in breach of arrangements of the NAPTAN constitution.
He stated the association’s constitution stated that nationwide elections need to be conducted in between April and Might, making the timing of the proposed election a significant concern for the ministry.
Ogunbanjo also stated the ministry raised concerns about the continued stay of the present management, keeping in mind that the constitution provides for a four-year tenure for executives.
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“The present leadership has actually been in workplace for over 20 years, in spite of the constitutional arrangement limiting the period of executives to 4 years,” he said.
The BoT chairman stated the ministry had also raised other issues relating to the prepared election, consisting of accusations that delegates were being imported for the exercise.
He further revealed that the ministry pointed out a pending court matter in Osun including Ademola as part of the concerns surrounding the proposed election.
Ministry Directs Factions Back To Dialogue
Ogunbanjo stated the problems surrounding the election required resolution through discussion, reconciliation and strict adherence to the constitutional provisions governing NAPTAN.
According to him, the ministry directed the contending factions to go back to discussion and resolve their differences before making any fresh effort to carry out a nationwide election.
The instruction is anticipated to offer an avenue for the different groups to address the concerns that have actually added to the leadership crisis and establish an equally appropriate procedure for the ultimate election.
Ogunbanjo stated solving the difference was especially important because the crisis had emerged at a critical duration when moms and dads required a united platform to get involved efficiently in conversations and decisions worrying education.
He worried that a divided moms and dads’ association might weaken the ability of parents to successfully present their concerns and add to national education policy conversations.
Moms And Dads’ Unity Important To Education Policy
The BoT chairman said the need to fix the crisis had actually ended up being more urgent in view of major education reforms and policy engagements anticipated ahead of 2027.
He advised the contending celebrations to put the interests of Nigerian kids and the education system above their distinctions by accepting transparency, unity and compliance with NAPTAN’s constitutional provisions.
Ogunbanjo preserved that a trustworthy and united parents’ association remained essential to making sure that the issues and interests of parents were effectively represented in national education policy conversations.
The association’s management dispute has for that reason put restored attention on the requirement for an election process that is transparent, constitutionally certified and appropriate to the numerous stakeholders.
While the Federal Ministry of Education has actually directed the factions to go back to dialogue, the next actions towards solving the disagreement and performing a fresh national election stay subject to the result of the reconciliation process.