‘Why interim committee cannot work in NFF Reform’

The Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria, (PFAN) says that the visit of the world’s football governing body FIFA has paved the way for a new era of unity for Nigerian footballers.

This is as Nigerians await the outcome of the meeting between Nigerian football stakeholders, top officials of both the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and FIFA.

The PFAN’s message, made available to The Guardian by its Secretary General, Edema Fuludu, came yesterday, just as one of the frontline members, Harrison Jalla, explained why the body accepted the proposed normalisation committee as the process to reform the nation’s football as against the interim body allegedly being proposed by State FA chairmen.

PFAN, which is the only recognised umbrella body for past and present professional footballers in Nigeria, thanked FIFA, CAF, NFF, and all partners for making it possible for “ the important engagement” to take place.

“Under one umbrella of the leadership of our president, Tijani Babangida, there is unprecedented unity and harmony within the Nigeria Players Union. The period of fragmentation is behind us. Today, PFAN represents all past and present professional footballers in Nigeria with one mandate: to protect, promote, and advance the welfare and interests of our members.

“The era of divide and rule that once inhibited the progress and collective bargaining power of the players union is now firmly behind us. The house of Nigerian players is united. We are focused on engagement, dialogue, and partnership with all stakeholders – government, NFF, clubs, and the international community – for the growth of football in Nigeria.

“As we participate in discussions at this FIFA Meeting, the PFAN reaffirms its commitment to inclusivity, player welfare, education, post-career support, and the development of football at all levels in Nigeria,” Fuludu said.

PFAN thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his visionary leadership and commitment to ongoing reforms in Nigerian football saying that the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda for Sports has provided an enabling environment for structure, welfare, and good governance to thrive within the football ecosystem.

“We are thankful for the Federal Government’s support for player welfare and football development. We also commend the National Sports Commission (NSC), for its policy direction, stakeholder engagement, and focus on athletes’ welfare, which have been instrumental in aligning Nigerian football with global best practices.”

Meanwhile, Jalla, who alongside Tijani Babangida and Chikwelue Iloenyosi represented PFAN at the meeting with CAF and FIFA, has revealed why the group kicked against the idea of setting up an interim body to reposition Nigerian football.

Jalla said: “In 2006, the Interim Committee succeeded because Fanny Amun, who was then Secretary General of the NFF was a staff of the Sports Ministry. So, when the Ibrahim Galadima-led NFF board was removed from office, the structure of Nigeria football was intact because Fanny Amun and Chief Oyuki Obaseki who was then the chairman of the league board and Vice chairman of the NFF, were on ground to run our football. It was their interim body that produced the Sanni Lulu-led board.

“But we have a different scenario at hand today because we don’t have a Secretary General in place now to lead the secretariat. If the former NFF Secretary General, Mohammed Sanusi had not resigned alongside the Ibrahim Gusau-led board, then, the idea of having an interim body could have come in.

“Now, we have Emmanuel Ikpeme as acting secretary of the NFF. He can’t lead the transition on interim basis because FIFA won’t even recognise him. The only way out is for every genuine stakeholder to align with the normalisation committee for our football to take shape as quickly as possible,” he stated.

Jalla added that the players’ union, coaches and referees associations aligned on the same pathway for Nigeria Football Reform. He said:

“Representations on the congress, NFF Board, its standing committees and voting rights must be equal in the new governing structure. We also agreed on a normalisation committee process driven by stakeholders.”