THE Governing Board of the National Theatre has rejected the concession of the edifice and ordered the General Manager of the complex, Mallam Kabir Yusuf, to stay action.
The board directed that the groundbreaking handover of the complex to a Dubai firm today should be stopped.
It advised the management of the theatre to allow the incoming administration of President-elect Muhammadu Buhari to determine the fate of the theatre.
The board made its position known in a May 18 memo signed by its chairman, Chief M.W. Ishaya, to the theatre’s general manager.
The same memo was sent to the Minister of Tourism and Culture, Edem Duke.
The memo said: “My attention and other members of the board have been drawn on recent reports regarding the National Theatre of which I am forced to make the following observations:
“If you recall in our last meeting of April 23rd 2015, I requested that you explain to the board members the true position of the transaction entered in between a Dubai based company and the National Theatre, which you faulted all the claims in the social media and newspaper publications.
“Though you casually informed the board that a ground breaking ceremony was coming up either on May 20, 2015 of which even as of today no memo on the event has been presented to me or the board for approval.
“Consequently, no mention has ever been made in any of our meeting that the National Assembly had once directed that we stay action on the concession and likewise the BPE’s advice on the issue.
“In light of the above, and considering that a new government is soon to take over, I am hereby on behalf of majority of board members advising you to stay action on the issue and all arrangements for the groundbreaking and any other commitments on the subject matter until further notice.”
Following a row over plans by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation to turn the complex into a hotel, the House of Representatives had on April 8, 2013, directed Duke to stay further action on the concession.
The ministry, however, defied the National Assembly last week by resuscitating the bid for the National Theatre.
This prompted a petition to the minister by the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE).
AUPCTRE in the petition said it would not accept any underhand bidding process.
Besides the concession of the theatre, the board chairman also raised other issues with the theatre’s management.
He advised the theatre management to stay action on appeal against a judgment in favour of trade unions in the organisation.
The memo added: “Information has also reached me that in the case with the unions, the court last week ruled in their favour.
“To give peace a chance in the organisation, I am stressing here that no appeal should be made on the ruling until the board sits and determines what action is to be taken. Meanwhile, all that is in the court ruling be adhered to accordingly please.”
The board chairman also queried alleged spending of N40 million on road shows to South Africa, London and Dubai.
He said: “There are speculations also in the media that N40 million was spent for the road show to South Africa, London and Dubai.
“The board is however surprised to hear that the amount was spent knowing well that not all members and those listed in the proposal were able to make it to all the places mentioned.
“It is, therefore, important that all beneficiaries with the amount paid to them be accounted for and the balance which would have been returned to the treasury receipted and made available to the board in its next meeting please.”
It faulted the alleged maltreatment of the board members by the theatre management.
“It is over a year since the board was inaugurated and to this day, no appointment letter has been issued to any member. You severally promised to get this done but to no avail.
“Now that the board may be winding up soon, it is important to know its entitlements as board members even if it is for record purposes.
“Your prompt action and inaction on the issues raised above will be appreciated please,” it said.