The National Sports Commission Chairman, Shehu Dikko, has announced that FIFA has endorsed Nigeria's plan to comprehensively reform its football administration. This development follows the resignation of the entire board of the Nigeria Football Federation and its General Secretary. Dikko disclosed this information in an interview with ARISE NEWS after meeting with FIFA and Confederation of African Football officials in Switzerland. The government presented its reform proposals to FIFA after the resignation created a leadership vacuum within the NFF.
According to Dikko, the government aims to undertake a comprehensive reform of Nigeria's football structures, involving consultations with stakeholders. The reform process will address concerns raised by stakeholders and has been a long-standing issue in Nigerian football. Dikko stated that FIFA has endorsed both the resignation of the NFF board and the proposed reforms, emphasizing that the process must follow the applicable rules. FIFA's endorsement paves the way for the reform process to move forward.
Earlier in September, FIFA and CAF concluded an assessment of the crisis within the Nigeria Football Federation. This assessment followed the mass resignation of NFF president Ibrahim Gusau, General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi, and other board members on August 27. The resignations came amid mounting scrutiny over the performances of Nigeria's national and youth teams, particularly the failure of the senior men's and women's teams to qualify for their respective World Cups.
Dikko mentioned that FIFA may establish a normalisation committee to oversee the reform process. This committee would be appointed by FIFA with defined terms of reference and timelines. The chairman stated that the committee would be independent and operate for between six months to a maximum of one year, depending on the reforms required and the agreement reached with stakeholders. The committee's primary goal is to ensure a smooth transition and implementation of the reforms.
Members of the proposed committee are expected to remain independent of the NFF electoral process. Dikko added that once a person participates in the committee, they are barred from contesting the election or being part of the NFF for a certain amount of time. This ensures that the committee can work neutrally and make unbiased decisions. The committee will report directly to FIFA while consulting with the Nigerian government.
Stakeholder consultations have already begun, with Dikko meeting with members of the NFF Congress to discuss the blueprint of the comprehensive reform. The NSC chair disclosed that the document has been shared with them for input. FIFA will eventually visit Nigeria for an on-site visit, where other stakeholders will be invited to contribute to the conversation. The proposed reforms will also target the NFF electoral system, aiming to make it more transparent.
The reforms will be implemented in phases, with some measures potentially extending beyond the tenure of a normalisation committee. Dikko stated that the reform process is comprehensive and may not be achievable within the framework of the NFF. The NFF will divide the reforms into immediate, medium, and long-term goals, ensuring that the process continues after the normalisation committee's engagement.
Key points
- FIFA has endorsed Nigeria's plan to reform its football administration.
- A normalisation committee may be established to oversee the reform process.
- The reforms aim to make the NFF electoral system more transparent.
