NFF Reforms Committee: Paradise in Sight? News

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NFF Reforms Committee: Paradise in Sight?

By Daily Sports on November 5, 2018

Unlike the confused bunch that join the bandwagon, I hardly follow that weather-beaten track as the many years in Journalism has thought me to look before leaping. The canons of the profession have guided firmly and beautifully thus far. I hardly jump into conclusions just like that but have learnt to tactically follow right judgments steadily, even if I stand alone.

On Wednesday, October 31, the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation, (NFF) led by now well behaved Amaju Pinnick released what it called Reform Committee of the apex football governing body in the country as part of its conclusions after its 74th Annual General Assembly held in Asaba, Delta State last week.

It was a far-reaching list of names of football administrators of note, past and present, giving out Amaju and his executive committee board as having listening ears this time around.

No doubt, after going through the names, I concluded that if the recommendations of this committee would be allowed to see the light of day after its sitting, then we should be ready to harvest bountifully from the game judging from the enormous talents and even resources that would be accrued through sponsorships and sundry.

These were the thoughts that quickly went through my mind and from thence have centred on this, especially because, hitherto, the poor implementation of turnaround documents chalked out by experts upon commissioning by governments at all levels have been left in draw cardboards gathering dust and moss. It remains however sad that only in Nigeria have we seen such an aberration.

It is only in Nigeria that beautifully crafted recommendations that would move the country out of the woods are conspired against by the devilish elites that have sold or traded of the wealth of this country with relative ease. It is only during conspiracy against the citizenry that you see these little thin gods masquerading as one

The list of the reform committee members was never lacking. One believes that the content of their work would be superb but where the problem would lie as usual is implementation. Nigeria is not one that lacks producing far-reaching well researched and programmed report. It is the belief of this reporter that I will be proved wrong at the end of the day when the report of this highly selected committee on NFF reforms is submitted.

I should not be misunderstood for any reason. I’m not trying to put the mouse before the cat but I’m just thinking aloud and from experience and peculiarity of this country. However, it looks as if Amaju Pinnick has the will to take the bull by the horn in his spirited efforts to reinvent Nigerian football. He is determined to leave his footprints on the sands of time. This is the time and we must not miss it. I have no doubt in my mind that the eminent persons NFF reforms committee would do a thorough job this time that the opportunity is here.

Let me be honest with you that the list that has the likes of Gara Gombe, Dilichukwu Onyedinma, Abba Yola, Taiwo Ogunjobi, Godwin Dudu Orumen, Kweku Tandoh will turn in a super copy. They are proved, tested and confirmed honest administrators. I have had close official dealings with those mentioned above and knows what contributions they would make. They call me by my first name and ours have been strictly official and no compromise whatsoever.

When I saw their names on the list, I instantly passed a vote of confidence on the committee. I became more satisfied with the workings of Amaju Pinnick led board.

It made me say to nobody else that this committee really meant business of football and understands how it is done in other serious climes where the sport has proved beyond every reasonable doubt to be a money spinner. My mind is made. I also believe that hope would not be dashed. Amaju Pinnick wants to leave a better and financially buoyant football house that would be a lot more self-reliant after he must have climbed further the ladder en route the leadership of CAF. One prays that the will to build a viable NFF that would enhance the growth of the game would take hold.

We are about to witness a new lease of life in our football administration and players rights that will be enhanced NPFL competition status. It will bring about a better condition of service for players and coaches in our shore. The calibre of men and women in the committee are ones who would never sit back to allow the reputation they built over these odd years to be rubbished.

The option left for them is to dig deep and ensure anybody or thing amongst them that would not be on the part of way forward for the game in the land to grow rapidly with human face be instantly shoved into the refuse dump of history. There is no reason why this committee that is peopled with such bright and savvy administrators not to get us something to work with that would put our football in steady move devoid of never do wells and opportunists that have sadly ruined our football over these years. There must be breathing space, thinking and peace in football family polity. These recommendations and sundry would help us more.

The committee has three months to submit its report. It shows how business-like Amaju Pinnick is on this assignment.

This is for the records and for those that may have missed the story, here is a recap. Enjoy as we wish the eminent committee members close, patriotic, all-embracing, honest deliberations.

NFF names members of Reform Committee

. Panel to complete the assignment within 3 months

The Nigeria Football Federation on Wednesday released names of its Reform Committee, which constitution was endorsed by the NFF Congress at the 74th Annual General Assembly of Nigerian Football in Asaba, Delta State on Wednesday last week.

Headed by the 1st Vice President of NFF, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi, the membership straddles the NFF Executive Committee, NFF Congress, technocrats, legal practitioners, political office holders, leading journalists and football stakeholders.

NFF 2nd Vice President/LMC Chairman Shehu Dikko will serve as Vice Chairman, with other Board members Ibrahim Musa Gusau and Chidi Ofo Okenwa also in, as well as NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi.

There are also Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi (Chairman, Osun State FA), Rt. Hon. Margaret Icheen (Chairman, Benue State FA), Porbeni Ogun (Chairman, Bayelsa State FA), Nasiru Saidu (Chairman, Sokoto State FA), Alh. Garba Mohammed (Chairman, Yobe State FA), Dr. Kweku Tandoh (Executive Chairman, Lagos State Sports Commission), Barrister Godwin Dudu Orumen (Executive Chairman, Edo State Sports Commission), Alh. Farouk Yarma Adamu (Commissioner for Youth Empowerment, Gombe State), Chief (Mrs) Dilichukwu Onyedinma (Director of Sports, FCT), Alh. Abba Yola (Chairman, NFF Technical Study Group) and Barrister Isaac Danladi, Chairman of NPFL Club Owners).

Others are Alh . Shuaib Gara-Gombe, business mogul Yemi Idowu, Barrister Sampson Ebomhe and foremost journalists Tony Ubani, Felix Awogu, Osasu Obayiuwana, Godwin Enakhena and Chisom Ezeoke, as well as one representative each of the Nigeria Football Coaches Association, Nigeria Referees Association and the National Association of Nigeria Professional Footballers.

Already, the committee has appointed George Etomi and Partners as independent Secretary/Legal Adviser (with liberty to seek other legal advice). The law firm will do all the collation and categorization of data. The Chairman, Barrister Akinwunmi has also appointed leading journalist Mr. Colin Udoh as his Special Assistant with specific responsibilities for research and social media enablement.

The panel has three months to conclude its assignment.

Akinwunmi told thenff.com that the committee will have a dedicated website and relevant email addresses (@Nigeriafootballreforms), “for people in every nook and cranny in Nigeria and also in the diaspora to be able to contribute to this debate and reform, as we will post all and any relevant document for review and general discussions. There could even be scheduled Q and A session on particular topics to be handled by specific persons.

“In line with FIFA and CAF best practice, of these members shall be selected a 9 (nine) - Member Bureau that will serve as the engine room to drive the committee work and manage the day to day activities of the committee. There will be a minimum of six meetings (twice a month) and a 2-3 Day retreat at the end of the exercise. All other interactions would be done online.

Thenff.com further gathered that the committee will visit each of the geopolitical zones (not all the members) to have town hall discussions and meet specific groups, as well as engage a permanent media team to cover every meeting and interaction across the country on a retainer basis (ultimately, materials would be produced and archived for posterity).

The first-of-its-kind NFF Reform Committee was approved by the NFF Congress at the General Assembly in Asaba last week with the following terms of reference:

a) Provide the most stable and sustainable foundations for football in Nigeria.

b) Ensure a commitment to the principles of good governance, inclusion and transparency in all areas of its operations which also requires its member associations, officials and employees to meet the high standards set in this regard.

c) Adapt to the latest development in the world of football to ensure that its operations and values adhere to the best governance standards possible.

d) Progressively adopt a wide range of reforms that reflect the views of the Nigerian and International Football Community in order to meet the evolving needs of the modern game.

e) Ensure that the principles enunciated by the Committee and its recommendations which are accepted by the Executive Committee are incorporated into an amended version of the NFF Statutes and pave the way for further significant and much-needed changes to NFF’s governance structure, electoral procedures and dispute resolution mechanism.

It is one cheering news that has been attracting traffic and discussion since it broke. Daily Sports (www.dailysportng.com) your way of life all sports portal is as usual on top of it. Our traditional trademark of gathering the news from the source and rooting same in time has placed us on top making newsmakers in sports administration to speak to us as an authoritative and authentic online portal. We are open on our social media portals of Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn etc. We are keenly watching and would always report accurately as we have been doing. Keep shooting hard, till next week!!

Source Daily Sports

Posted November 5, 2018