The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency(NIMASA) will conduct the forth-coming election of the Nigerian Indigenous Ship-owners Association(NISA) scheduled for Oct. 24 in Lagos.
Capt. Niyi Adeyemo, the NISA Electoral Committee Chairman, disclosed this during a briefing at the association’s secretariat on Monday.
He said the choice of NIMASA as the ‘Returning Officer’ for the election was as provided in NISA constitution.
“By law they are authorised to grant ship-building and ship purchase funds to those who apply.
“They oversee activities of operations in shipping in Nigeria,” he said.
Also speaking, Mr Joe Ugo-Emeribe, secretary of the committee, said NIMASA was chosen, when the constitution was being drawn, for credibility purposes.
” NIMASA is a regulatory body and we know that for credibility sake, it is good that NIMASA conducts our elections.”
According to Ugo- Emeribe, the election date was shifted from Oct. 15 to Oct. 24 to enable them take care of logistics for the election.
He also said that the association would get NIMASA’s approval of its guidelines for the election before they could go along with it.
On the number of contestants, he said there were 22 candidates contesting for various positions.
“The positions the candidates are contesting for include the president, the first and second vice-presidents, a secretary- general and assistant secretary-general.
“Others are treasurer, financial secretary, publicity secretary, welfare officer and coordinators for Lagos, Warri, Port Harcourt and Calabar.”
A legal adviser is to be appointed after the executive has been constituted, Ugo-Emeribe said.
The electoral committee added that there would be room for appeal if after the election any of the candidates expressed displeasure.
It also said that candidates were expected to present their manifestos before the members.
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