National Delegates Conference 2016: PMAN drops electoral guidelines … Sues Labour Ministry

BY DENNIS UGBUDIAN

Pursuant to the additional mandate granted in the Consent Court judgement that set up the Interim National Executive Caretaker Committee of the Performing Musicians Employers’ of Nigeria (PMAN) dated October 31, 2014 to run and manage the affairs for a period of 18 months and convene a National Delegates Conference thereafter, all is now set for the event slated for October this year.

According to a statement by the association’s General Secretary, Dr Kenny Ama George, the conference where elections into various offices of PMAN will be conducted, is also in accordance with the provisions of the constitution and in compliance with the resolutions of the National Executive Council (NEC) Meeting held on May 30, 2016.

Altogether, four key positions plus that of ex-officio members (seven of them with different areas of specialization) will be vied for. To qualify for any of the posts of president, 1st vice president, 2ndvice president and national treasurer, a candidate must have been a financial member for at least one year and must have also registered into the PMAN Biometric ID Card scheme.

While the election forms and fees for the president is N50,000 and N500,000 respectively, the first vice president will pay N40,000 and N400,000 with the second vice going for N30,000 and N300,000. The seven ex-officio members will pay N10,000 and N25,000 respectively. And the forms are available at their secretariat.

As for the venue of the Delegates Conference, the statement stated that it will be confirmed and announced after conclusion of formalities with the prospective host state of the event within the shortest distance.

…Sues Labour Ministry

Meanwhile, in a suit filed on August 17, 2016 on behalf of the association, at the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Lagos Division in Suit No NICN/LA/537/2016 – between PMAN & 2 others VS Federal Ministry of Labour& Employment & 31 others, their Counsel MessrsOgbeide Kingsley Ukumben and Vure Joshua Kara, are seeking various injunctive and restraining orders from the court which include;

A declaration that the convening constitution and purported inauguration of a PMAN parallel executive by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige is void abinitio and a nullity on the grounds that the said convening constitution inauguration of the said committee were done in clear and violent breach of the applicants’ fundamental human rights to fair hearing as guaranteed under section 36 sub section (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended.

A declaration that further relief 1 above the said convening constitution and inauguration of the above Caretaker Committee by the respondents as unlawful, illegal, ultra vires, and unconstitutional which constitute a reckless and gross abuse of executive powers.

‘’It is therefore null and void and of no legal effect howsoever and whatsoever as the applicants were never notified, neither were they invited nor were present at the said illegal inauguration,’’ they deposed.

They called for an order of the court prohibiting and or restraining the Labour Minister, the Permanent Secretary, the Director of Trade Union Services and Industrial Relations, the Registrar of Trade Unions and others present at the inauguration or their agents, etc, from acting now or in future in any capacity regarding the running and operations of PMAN henceforth.