Sports Commission chairman seeks Gombe House of Assembly’s support for financial autonomy
Autonomy
By Hajara Leman
Gombe, Feb. 25, 2020 (NAN) Hamza Soye, Chairman of the Gombe State Sports Commission, on Tuesday urged the State House of Assembly to enact a law to give the commission financial autonomy.
Soye, during a courtesy visit to the Speaker of the House , Abubakar-Sadiq Kurba in Gombe, such financial autonomy would enhance the commission’s operations.
“If the commission is given autonomy, it will have the chance to operate freely without going through the Ministry of Sports and Youth Development,’’ he said.
The chairman said such a legislation would also ensure that there was no duplication of duties between the commission and the ministry.
“The ministry should have no mandate to interfere with sports activities which is the responsibility of the commission.’’
Soye appealed for the restoration of sports activities in primary and secondary schools, saying this would go a long way in developing sports in the state.
He disclosed that the commission had concluded arrangements for the 20th National Sports Festival (NSF) coming up in Edo.
“We want to appeal for a timely release of funds to enable us adequately prepare and participate well,’’ the commission chairman said.
Responding, Kurba assured the commission that he and members of the House Committee on Sports committee would carefully take a look at the Act establishing the commission.
“This is for us to see where and how to intervene,’’ he said.(NAN)
HUL/JPE/OLAL
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(Edited by Joseph Edeh and Olawale Alabi)