ANLCA Fixes Date for Chapter Elections

BY EGUONO ODJEGBA

The electoral body of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) has released the timetable for elections into its chapters, nationwide, with the commencement of electoral activities billed to begin yesterday, November 4, 2024; while Thursday 21 Nov, 2024, 28th Nov, 2024 and December 5, 2024  has been fixed as election date foe western, eastern and nothern zones, respectively.

A release by the Association Electoral Commission (ASECO) made available to our reporter and signed by ASECO Chairman and Secretary, Elochukwu Obiora and Abayomi Ajibola, respectively, also approved sixteen (16) point time-table for the conduct of the exercise beginning with the lifting of embargo on electioneering campaigns and commencement of sales of nomination forms effective Monday, November 4, 2024; while the deadline for the submission of nomination forms is Friday, November 2024.

The timetable reads as follows:

1. Lifting of Electioneering Campaign; Monday, 4th Nov, 2024
2. Sales of Expressing of Interest/ Nomination Form; 4th Nov, 2024
3. Submission of Forms (Deadline); Friday, 15th Nov, 2024
4. Publication of Provisional List Aspirant/ Voters (All Zones); Friday, 15th Nov, 2024
5. Screening of Aspirants (Western Zone); Mon.- Tues 18th-19th Nov 2024
6. Submission of Petition (WZ); Tuesday 19th Nov, 2024
7. Publication of Final Lists (Candidate/Voters (WZ)); Wednesday, 20th Nov, 2024
8. Election Day/Declaration of Result (WZ); Thursday 21 Nov, 2024
9. Screening of Aspirants EZ; Monday, 25th Nov, 2024
10. Submission of Petition EZ; Tuesday, 26th Nov, 2024
11. Publication of Final Lists (Candidates/Voters) EZ; Wednesday, 27th Nov, 2024
12. Election Day/Declaration of Result EZ; Thursday, 28th Nov, 2024
13. Screening of Aspirants NZ; Monday, 2nd Dec, 2024
14. Submission of Petition NZ; Tuesday, 3rd Dec., 2024
15. Publication of Final Lists (Candidates/Voters) NZ; Wednesday, 4th Dec, 2024
16. Election Day/ Declaration of Result NZ; Thursday, 5th Dec., 2024

According to the released electoral guidelines, nomination forms for the various positions to be contested are as follows:

Chairman N700, 000.00, Vice Chairman N600, 000.00, Secretary N600, 000.00, Financial Secretary N500, 000.00, Treasurer N500, 000.00, Publicity Secretary N400, 000.00 and Asst. Secretary N400.000.00. The guidelines further states that payments are non-refundable.

Furtherance to the guidelines, while the collection/submission of nomination forms shall be from the ASECO Chairman or Secretary, all payments “shall be made by Certified Bank Draft or though Bank Transfer made payable to ANLCA account; within the specified time frame.

The ASECO leadership advises contestants to feel free to direct enquiries relating to the exercise to the Electoral Secretariat for clarifications.

According to the copy of the Revised ASECO Guidelines for Chapter Election 2024, sighted by our reporter, ARTICLE 3 under ELIGIBILITY GENERAL REQUIREMENTS states:

1. a) All candidates must be free from any criminal conviction and other vices as enshrined in sections 24(6) & (11) of the ANLCA constitution.
2. b) All cases of financial impropriety and indebtedness against any candidate shall be cleared by a letter of non-indebtedness from the National Headquarters not later than seven (7) days before Election Day. Letter of Clearance shall absolve the candidate from further liability for the indebtedness.
3. c) All candidates shall be Directors of Corporate members, and the candidate shall be a major shareholder. The candidate’s name and shareholding status shall be reflected and duly registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) on the particulars of directors i.e. form Co2 and form Co7 filling date and that of Custom Operational License not less than five (5) years for Chapters Executives as at the time of interest.
4. d) Candidates/Voters shall be directors of a Corporate member who must be financially up-to-date.
5. e) The minimum qualification of the candidate shall be a West African School Certificate or its equivalent.
6. f) All candidates shall indicate interest in writing addressed to the Chairman of ASECO in accordance with section 22(3) (b) of the ANLCA Constitution.
7. g) Corporate members must possess a current year valid Customs License.
8. h) Company’s (Corporate member) as well as the candidate’s income Tax.