Dear Council Member

On Thursday 21st April 2016, members of the governing Council of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), took a decision to suspend/put on hold ICAN UK & District Society's planned Executive Committee elections scheduled for 29th April 2016. We understand that this decision was based on a petition sent to the Council by a lone 'member' of ICAN UK who is an infrequent attendee at District meetings & events and a non-financial member of the District, owing two years subscriptions.

Plans for the elections were painstakingly put together by a 3-member Caretaker Committee (CTC) appointed by the Council to conduct the elections under rules and guidance prescribed by the Council and followed to the minute detail by CTC. Members of the UK District are baffled that the governing Council can take a decision with huge consequences on a whim and without notice to the CTC, a body Council itself set up to oversee the affairs of the District.

It is deeply troubling that a lone member of a District can cause the governing Council of the Institute to derail a fully compliant electoral process in line with Council’s own guidelines. What does this say of the governing Council of the House of Accuracy & Integrity? This decision undermines Council’s own process which requires channelling District matters through the Council member that coordinates the affairs of the relevant District. By this action, has the Council not thrown protocol to the wind and invited chaos going forward? That a lone non-financial member of a District with backers on Council can insult the authority of the Council’s official District Coordinator and have their way with impunity?.

Here at the UK District, yet again, dedicated members to the cause of the District and the Institute have incurred expenses, bought long distance train tickets and reorganised their diaries in order to attend the AGM and elections meeting scheduled for Friday 29th April 2016. This decision is capable of destroying the District with huge impact on the Institute if it is not rescinded.