By Uzor Odigbo
The National Association of Technical Officials, (NAATO) says it is still aggrieved and disappointed the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, (AFN), is yet to pay its members who officiated at the 2023 Nigeria Track and Field Championships held in July 2023 in Benin city, Edo state.
The body also disassociated itself from a report which says NAATO may drag the AFN before the National Assembly.
In a rejoinder signed by the body’s Secretary General, Gama Yakubu James, NAATO also says the AFN should live up to its responsibilities and pay the outstanding allowances before the end of this year.
The press statement reads: ‘The attention of NAATO has been drawn to an Online publication with the caption above, by the Secretary General of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria
(AFN).
Ordinarily, NAATO would not have been bordered by the publications but for the suspicious intent of the publication aimed at tarnishing the good image of our Association and the cordial relationship between the Association and AFN.
We therefore wish to distance our Association from the publication and as well set the records right for the Public, our Trustees, our well-wishers, and
all other Stakeholders.
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Truly , the Association remains aggrieved and disappointed by the failure of the AFN to pay up the allowance as promised by President of the Federation.
However, there was no point in time that NAATO muted the idea, discussed and or resolved to drag AFN to any Institution or authorities for the purpose of resolving the issue of the July 2023, (the unpaid Benin World Athletics Championship Trials’ allowances).
Even though the NAATO Officials involved in the Benin Trials have not been paid their allowances up till this moment (17/12/2023), the Association has
managed the situation with a great sense of responsibility, decorum and due process.
This informed the decision of the Association to send an SOS Letter to the President of AFN on the issue after a long waiting sometimes ago.
If NAATO has issues, the Association is well aware of the appropriate channel(s) to utilize for the resolution of such issues. Certainly, it is not by press publication.
Going by the contents of the said publication, it is obvious that the details regarding the various amount of monies handled or paid the named officers of the Federation can only be known by those who are privy to the transactions (definitely, NAATO is not aware of those details).
Our Association (NAATO) and the Federation (AFN) have been enjoying very good and cordial relationships despite the unfortunate Benin experience.
NAATO is very much interested in rendering positive assistance to our Federation in order to ensure proper development of our sport in Nigeria in line with
the World best practices.
The Association’s SOS memo to the AFN President on the non payment of officiating allowance to our members cannot by any stretch of imagination be regarded as a threat to drag AFN to other higher authorities.
What is abundantly clear from the contents of the online publication, is that the reporter may have overheard some aggrieved members complaining about the unfortunate Benin experience and thereafter laced it with information from other sources. NAATO has not at any point in time whatsoever authorized any member(s)to issue a press statement or grant Interview on the Benin episode.
NAATO wishes to use this medium to urge members to remain calm and assure all Stakeholders that the Association would always follow Due Process in ensuring that members get their dues, and get issues resolved diligently.
‘We are of the hope that the AFN shall do the needful by paying up the outstanding amount before the year runs.