Gusau’s NFF is product of interim court order, Jalla tells sports minister

The legal crisis within the Nigerian football family may be far from over, following a declaration by the Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria (PFAN), yesterday, that the current board of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), led by Ibrahim Gusau, is a product of an interim court order in an ongoing case in the Court of Appeal, Abuja division.

The chairman, PFAN Task Force, Harrison Jalla, stated in his message to Sports Minister, Senator John Enoh, that proceedings in the Court of Appeal will resume in January 2024, and the office of the minister is a party to the case.

In his massage titled: ‘Senator John Enoh’s 12 months ultimatum to NFF for Congress Expansion and Proportional Representation: Has a Daniel come to judgment?’ Jalla stated that such ultimatum to the NFF for urgent reforms was initiated by Enoh’s predecessor, Chief Sunday Dare.

“For the minister to have made this very strong statement early in his administration is a welcome development and commendable,” Jalla said.

“Nigerian football was a sinking ship 18 months ago, where looting, financial recklessness, maladministration, greed and self aggrandisement held sway. Whether the Ibrahim Gusau led NFF board can rescue the sinking ship is a matter for another day. But there is no other way in achieving a working Nigeria Football Federation than taking the bold step to break the monopoly of the states’ football association chairmen with 37 votes in a congress of 44 in a federation that is made up of five statutory members.

“The clamour is for inclusiveness and bringing corporate Nigeria into the governance structure to manage the business aspect of Nigerian football. The NFF, as constituted almost 20 years ago, is nothing but a leech of the congregation of failed states’ FA chairmen, who added no value to football development in their states.

“All they do as elected NFF board members is to prepare national teams for competitions, make themselves chairmen of standing and sub- committees, which they have no professional competence to lead.

“The NFF is a kingdom Hall of visionless states’ FA chairmen. No progress can be made in Nigerian football until drastic measures for real reforms are initiated. Nigerian football stakeholders are desirous and very determined to see real change in the administration of football in Nigeria. Kudos to the minister of sports,” Jalla stated.