From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
House of Representatives Committee on Sports, has issued one week ultimatum to the president and members of the Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC) to unfailingly appear before it and defend their preparation for the Paris Olympics Games.
The Reps Committee claimed that the summon is in its determination to ensure that Nigeria improves on her podium performance in the last Olympic Games
It further stressed that it is part of its statutory responsibility of oversight functions on all the agencies saddled with the preparation of Nigerian athletes.
The ultimatum was as a result of the inability of the NOC Predident, Habu Gumel, to honour the summon earlier given to him and other NOC board members for the earlier meeting scheduled this week Thursday to appear at the House of Representatives complex in Abuja
Though the NOC was represented at the meeting by its vice Predident, Solomon Ogba, Secretary, Popoola and other sports federation members, the Committee members had expressed reservations over Gumel’s absence.
Ogba, had in defence told the Reps Committee members that Gumel was unavoidably absent at the meeting, explaining that he was outside the country to attend a meeting of the International Olympics Committee (IOC)
Reacting, chairman of the Reps Committee on Sports, Ekene Abubakar Adams, had insisted that the presence of the NOC chairman was highly needed at the meeting, stressing that there are much that he would be expected to explain to his committee on Team Nigeria preparation for the games.
The lawmaker representing Kajuri/Chikum Federal Constituency, Kaduna state, emphasised that his committee just want to ensure that Team Nigeria improves on its participation at previous Olympics games.
Addressing newsmen after the botched meeting, he said; “We have rescheduled for Thursday next week. We have asked the NOC to go so that they can brief us properly because of the importance we attached to the game of sports. We urge the chairman to respect the voice of the people and appear before the Sports Committee next week,” he warned.
Adams, revealed that such oversight functions will be extended to the Ministry of Sports, John Owan Enoh, originally saddled with the task of preparing Nigeria athletes for the games.
“This is not the first time we invite NOC. We should know the level of preparation of the Nigerian team. We should be told about all their preparations, if they have problems we should know and see how to help . We are here to see to the development of Nigerian sports. We are not fighting anybody, but we must do the right thing to develop sports in the country
“NOC is doing its best we know and we must commend them, but we must work to see a better administration of sports in the country. By the provisions of the constitution, the NASS has the powers to oversee the growth of sports.
“After the NOC, the committee will extend similar invitation to the sports ministry because our target is to ensure that the ministry and agencies utilize the federal government appropriations to prepare our athletes to win laurels for the country as against the mere participation status of Nigeria in previous Olympic Games,” he explained.