NFF Reform To Reshape Football Governance As NSC, Congress Talks Continue

The proposed reform of Nigeria’s football administration is set to bring significant changes to the country’s football governance structure as the National Sports Commission (NSC) continues consultations with members of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Congress in Abuja.

The discussions, which continued on Friday, involved 16 State Football Association chairmen and the NSC leadership led by Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko and Director-General Bukola Olopade.

The meeting focused on expanding the NFF Congress and the modalities for establishing a proposed Normalisation Committee to oversee the federation during the transition.

The talks followed Thursday’s meeting, which ended without a concrete agreement after both sides reportedly maintained their positions on some of the contentious issues surrounding the proposed transition.

Dikko had earlier disclosed that the reform programme would extend beyond the immediate leadership crisis and would be binding on whoever emerges as the next NFF president.

“There will be an agreement involving the Nigerian government, FIFA and CAF that whoever emerges as president must continue along this reform path and ensure that the reforms are fully implemented within the agreed framework,” Dikko stated.

The proposed arrangement follows the resignation of former NFF president Ibrahim Gusau and members of his board, which created a leadership vacuum and prompted consultations involving the Nigerian government, FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

Dikko has maintained that the intervention is not merely aimed at filling the vacant leadership positions but at addressing structural and governance challenges within Nigerian football.

According to a source at Friday’s meeting, the NSC chairman expressed optimism that the consultations would eventually produce a resolution, describing the engagement with the Congress as an important step towards establishing a new framework for the administration of football in the country.

However, it remained unclear whether the State FA chairmen and NSC leadership reached an agreement on the composition of the proposed Normalisation Committee.

The committee is expected to oversee the NFF during the transition, review relevant statutes, implement agreed reforms and ultimately organise elections for a new federation leadership.

Dikko had earlier indicated that the committee could remain in place for three months, six months or even a year, depending on the scope of the reforms and the time required to implement them.

He also stressed that members of the committee must be independent and free from conflicts of interest.

“They will have to be individuals who are not conflicted and are independent, people who have no personal interest in anything to do with the NFF going forward,” he said.

Further consultations with the wider NFF Congress are expected before a final position is reached on the proposed transition arrangements.

While Friday’s meeting reportedly provided further clarity on the reform agenda, key issues, particularly the expansion of the Congress and the composition, mandate and the composition of the proposed Normalisation Committee, remain subject to further consultations.