NFF reconciliation committee sets up constitution drafting team, reconvenes April 27

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Reconciliation Committee inaugurated by the NFF board to look into the misunderstanding between members of the All Nigerian Football Players Union (ANFPU) and the Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria (PFAN) has set up a seven-man constitution drafting committee.

Chairman of the committee, Philip Shaibu, who is also Edo State’s Deputy Governor, announced yesterday in Benin that former international, Felix Owolabi-Akinloye, would chair the constitution drafting team. He added that the committee is expected to come out with recommendations on the process that will lead to a new leadership of a united players’ union.

He said: “The Constitution drafting committee has just two weeks to submit its report and the two weeks expires on April 14, 2023. It is also to make recommendations on the process that will lead to the new leadership of a united union of players in Nigeria.

“Also, after all the documentation, which includes drafting of a new constitution and recommendations of the Committee, the House will meet on April 26 to adopt the new constitution and receive the recommendation of the process that will lead to the new leadership of one united players’ union, which we will all agree on.

“On April 26, 2023, we will also be unveiling the name that will be adopted for the new union.

“We have collectively agreed to have a one players’ union that is not divided. This is a commitment from PFAN and ANFPU to address abnormalities observed in the cause of the meeting, which includes slave contracts, ill health, and poor welfare of members,” Shaibu explained.

Thanking both unions for accepting to attend the meeting, he stated that their acceptance to meet with the Committee in line with their collective commitment to have a formidable players’ union united in the interest of both retired and active players in Nigeria was commendable.

“This sacrifice will go a long way to correct the abnormalities associated with the welfare of retired players and those on active service,” he said.