Since the appointment of Dr. Mrs. Gloria Obajimi early the previous month as Acting Director, the National Institute for Sports (NIS) has been in crisis. The Honourable Minister of Sports, Tamuno Danagogo allegedly plans to appoint a substantive director from outside the institution without the approval of the Governing Council. Investigations revealed that the out-going Minister had concluded plans to visit the institute to officially introduce one Professor Eke from Bayelsa State as the substantive Director as well as approve the continued retention of the erstwhile Director, Sunny Ikhioya, as a Chief Lecturer in the institute. It was further revealed that the Minister who has less than two weeks to the end of his tenure has refused to take the advice of the various unions clamoring for the confirmation of Obajimi as the substantive Director following the relative peace in the school since her appointment A source said: “It is unfortunate that with less than two weeks to the winding up of the present administration, the Minister of Sports is trying to impose his kinsman as Director of NIS without due process which requires advertising the position, a good selection process and input from the Governing Council. “We were also told that the Minister will be visiting the school tomorrow (today) where he plans to introduce the Director to us as well as approve the retaining of Ikhioya as Chief Lecturer, not minding that the same man was at the helm of affairs in the school for nine years without conducting any convocation ceremony coupled with series of crisis that trailed his administration. “The present Acting Director has passed through the system and since her appointment; we've been having relative peace. “It is also on record that she is the first woman to head the institute and as such should be allowed to continue her good work”, said the source with an appeal to President Good luck Jonathan to call the Minister to order so as not to plunge the institution into unending crisis.
