NSC, NFF Congress agree on reform framework 

NSC, NFF Congress agree on reform framework After the brick bats, finally the State Football Associations (FAs) of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the National Sports Commission have finally arrived at an acceptable compromise.According to a document titled "THE NIGERIA FOOTBALL REFORM Framework NATIONAL SPORTS Commission THE NIGERIA FOOTBALL REFORM FRAMEWORK", obtained by http://www.sportsunlimited.ng, a draft by the National Sports Commission received tumultuous applause at Monday's meeting between the Congress and the Chairman of NSC, Mallam Shehu Dikko.

The draft copy presented a comprehensive programme for the modernisation, transition and sustainable development of football governance in Nigeria.Below are the proposals contained in the draft.

1. PURPOSE, SCOPE AND APPLICATION

1.1. This Nigeria Football Reform Framework (the “Framework”) sets out the comprehensive measures for reform, modernisation, transition and sustainable development of football governance and administration in Nigeria.

1.2. The Framework is intended to establish a more inclusive, democratic, transparent, accountable and commercially sustainable football system. It defines the minimum reforms to the NFF Statutes, Congress, corporate governance, domestic leagues, commercial systems, football development structures, funding arrangements, infrastructure, legislation and elections.

1.3. The Framework shall be implemented in accordance with applicable Nigerian law, the NFF Statutes, and the Statutes and regulations of FIFA and CAF. Each institution shall act only within its lawful powers and shall respect the institutional autonomy of the NFF and every decision or approval reserved to FIFA, CAF or Nigeria’s competent constitutional authorities.

1.4. The reforms shall be implemented through the lawful powers of the relevant institutions. The Normalisation Committee shall carry out only the work that falls within its FIFA-approved mandate and can reasonably be completed during its term. Any reform that cannot lawfully be completed by the Normalisation Committee, or remains unfinished at the end of its term, shall pass as a binding institutional obligation to the newly elected NFF Executive Committee and the other institution having the legal power to complete it.

CENTRAL CONTINUITY RULE

The election is not the end of the reform programme. It is the point at which the newly elected NFF Board takes full responsibility for completing every outstanding NFF reform under the approved timetable.

2. REFORM OBJECTIVES AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES

2.1. The overall objective is to build an NFF that is inclusive, democratic, transparent, properly governed, commercially sustainable and capable of delivering consistent football development and sporting success.

2.2. The Reform Programme shall be guided by the following principles:

(a) Football autonomy and lawful roles. The NFF shall remain institutionally autonomous in football matters. The NSC shall carry out its lawful duties on public policy, public funds, public infrastructure and the national interest, while FIFA and CAF retain the powers reserved to them under their respective frameworks.

(b) Inclusion and fair representation. The people who play, run and grow the game should have a voice. Consultation, gender inclusion, non-discrimination and fair stakeholder representation shall be built into the new framework.

(c) Integrity and accountability. Elections, procurement, commercial rights, financial decisions and the use of public or development funds shall be transparent, properly recorded and open to independent review.

(d) Continuity and proper speed. Competitions, national teams, staff, players, clubs, valid contracts, records and assets shall be protected. The reform work shall move promptly, but consultation, due process, eligibility checks and election integrity shall not be sacrificed.

(e) Sustainability. Every reform shall be designed to survive the transition and continue under the duly elected NFF leadership.

(f) Support with accountability. Government and development support shall be tied to clear deliverables, proper controls and measurable results. In simple terms, support and accountability must move together.

3. NFF STATUTES, CONGRESS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

3.1. The NFF Statutes, Electoral Code and related regulations shall be comprehensively reviewed and upgraded through an inclusive process. The revised instruments shall be subject to every approval required under the FIFA and CAF Statutes.

3.2. The revised constitutional and governance framework shall, at a minimum:

(a) define clearly the NFF’s legal personality, autonomy, membership and objectives, together with the roles of Congress, the Executive Committee, standing bodies and the Secretariat; and restructure the composition of the Executive Committee and the qualifications for membership;

(b) expand and rebalance Congress so that critical football stakeholders receive fair and meaningful voting or participatory rights, as appropriate, including State Football Associations, leagues and clubs, players, coaches, referees, women’s football, youth and grassroots football, male and female former internationals, and other recognised football constituencies;

(c) require every stakeholder representative to emerge through a transparent and democratic constituency process based on objective criteria, without unfair domination by any single [unclear];

(d) separate strategic oversight from day-to-day management; define the powers of the Executive Committee and General Secretary; and establish effective finance, audit and risk, remuneration and commercial oversight arrangements;

(e) provide fit-and-proper standards, independent eligibility checks, reasonable term limits, inclusion, conflict-of-interest rules, asset and interest declarations, and clear procedures for removal and vacancies;

(f) establish independent electoral, audit and compliance, ethics, disciplinary and appeal bodies, together with fair football dispute-resolution mechanisms consistent with FIFA requirements and access to the Court of Arbitration for Sport where applicable;

(g) require annual budgets, proper procurement, timely audited financial statements, reporting on public and development funds, sound internal controls, and [text unclear].

(h) provide modern and effective rules for integrity, safeguarding, player welfare, refereeing, coaching, women’s football, youth development, grassroots football, futsal and beach soccer.

3.3. Where a stakeholder category is not suitable for voting membership under applicable FIFA rules, the framework shall create a genuine consultative or observer mechanism so that the stakeholder’s contribution is heard, recorded and considered in the work of Congress.

3.4. The revised framework shall make governance practical, not merely procedural. Responsibilities must be clear, decisions traceable, oversight independent and office-holders answerable for performance and the proper use of football resources.

4. LEAGUE REFORM, COMMERCIALISATION AND FOOTBALL DEVELOPMENT

4.1. The domestic leagues shall be restructured as autonomous and professionally managed competitions within the NFF’s regulatory framework. Each league shall have a clear legal status and governance framework, competent management, an accountable board, transparent finances and proper representation of participating clubs.

4.2. Club licensing shall be strictly implemented across sporting, infrastructure, personnel, administrative, legal and financial criteria. Any phased compliance arrangement shall be objective, time-bound and published. Club licensing shall not be treated as optional.

4.3. The NSC domestic-league intervention proposal may, subject to a separate implementation agreement, lawful approvals and available funds, include:

(a) increased aggregate prize money of up to NGN 2.5 billion;

(b) centralised match and media production to improve visibility, broadcast quality and commercial value, for which NGN 15 billion has been provided in the NSC’s 2026 budget to activate the project;

(c) a minimum player-remuneration benchmark, including the proposed NGN 2,000,000 monthly salary benchmark, with the applicable period, payment safeguards and enforcement mechanism stated in the league rules and funding instrument;

(d) stronger sponsorship, broadcast, digital, data and other commercial-rights arrangements; and

(e) use of the nationwide sports-facility programme to improve eligible club and competition venues.

4.4. Any Government support shall be conditional on strict club licensing, audited financial controls, transparent and democratic league governance, proper procurement, agreed performance indicators and enforceable reporting.

4.5. The NFF and the league bodies shall maintain a verified inventory of commercial assets and rights; use transparent, competitive and conflict-free processes for material sponsorship and rights transactions; document revenue-sharing arrangements; and ensure the prompt and traceable distribution of income.

4.6. The commercialisation programme shall seek sustainable value, not short-term deals. It shall improve the packaging, production, distribution and protection of football content and rights, strengthen sponsor confidence and create dependable revenue for clubs, leagues, the NFF and football development.

4.7. The Reform Programme shall also promote enforceable player contracts and wage protection, insurance and safeguarding, credible refereeing and competition integrity, stronger coaching and technical development, and sustained investment in youth, grassroots and women’s football.

5. SPORTS FUNDING, INFRASTRUCTURE AND LEGISLATIVE ALIGNMENT

5.1. The Reform Programme acknowledges the Federal Government of Nigeria’s exceptional commitment to sports under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, including:

(a) approved first-line-charge treatment for time-sensitive sporting commitments;

(b) unprecedented funding and rewards for Nigeria’s male and female national teams;

(c) the approved nationwide sports-infrastructure programme currently stated at over NGN 300 billion over three years; and

(d) the proposed Sports Infrastructure Development Bond of up to NGN 1 trillion.

5.2. Subject to appropriation, procurement law and separate approvals, the NSC shall coordinate public funding and infrastructure support for national teams, football development, eligible league interventions, stadium rehabilitation and construction, and grassroots, school and community facilities.

Relevant projects should meet applicable FIFA technical, safety, accessibility and sustainability standards.

5.3. Public funding shall be governed by written instruments stating the purpose, milestones, disbursement conditions, procurement rules, reporting, audit, recovery and consequences of misuse.

This Framework does not, by itself, amount to an automatic appropriation, grant, guarantee or disbursement.

5.4. The NSC shall lead and facilitate the Federal Government’s policy and legislative work for the repeal of the Nigeria Football Association Act, Cap. N110, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 (the “NFA Act”) and the enactment of a modern Nigeria Football Federation Act (the “NFF Act”) through Nigeria’s constitutionally competent institutions.

FIFA and CAF shall provide timely technical comments on alignment with their Statutes and recognised international practice.

5.5. The proposed NFF Act should:

(a) give the NFF appropriate domestic legal recognition and protect its institutional and operational autonomy in football matters;

(b) declare football a national asset and enable it to benefit from applicable concessions, support, protection and other measures that will drive its growth;

(c) recognise the NFF’s duty to comply with applicable FIFA and CAF rules, while remaining subject to Nigerian law in matters of general application;

(d) provide clear accountability for public funds and public assets without creating day-to-day Government control of football administration;

(e) support the dispute-resolution, electoral, integrity and governance framework established under the revised NFF Statutes; and

(f) recognise participation in association football as voluntary and require stakeholders to exhaust applicable dispute-resolution mechanisms and submit football-related disputes to an independent and properly constituted arbitration tribunal recognised under the NFF or CAF framework, and to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, rather than ordinary courts, except where FIFA regulations or binding law specifically provide otherwise.

5.6. The Normalisation Committee and the elected NFF Executive Committee shall provide cooperation, technical input and advocacy within their lawful powers, but neither body shall be treated as having power to repeal or enact legislation.

5.7. Any FIFA development or infrastructure support, including under FIFA Forward or another programme, shall remain subject to FIFA’s applicable rules, eligibility criteria and separate written approval.

6. ELECTIONS, HANDOVER AND MANDATORY COMPLETION OF UNFINISHED REFORMS

6.1. Elections to the NFF Executive Committee shall take place only after the revised governance and electoral framework has been validly adopted and approved by FIFA.

6.2. The electoral process shall include a published timetable, a verified voters’ register, transparent nominations, independent eligibility review, secret balloting, a fair appeal process, proper records, and FIFA and CAF supervision.

6.3. As an election-integrity safeguard, a member of the Normalisation Committee shall not be eligible to contest an office in the election organised by the Committee, subject to FIFA’s final decision.

6.4. The electoral sequence shall proceed from the local council level to the State Football Associations and the relevant stakeholder constituencies, including the players’ union, referees, coaches and leagues, before elections to the NFF Executive Committee and presidency.

6.5. Not later than 21 days before the election, the Normalisation Committee shall prepare and publish an appropriate summary of a Reform Completion and Handover Plan (the “Handover Plan”).

The Handover Plan shall identify each completed and outstanding reform, the responsible institution, deliverable, deadline, funding position and material risk.

6.6. The revised NFF Statutes, election documents, candidate undertakings and, where relevant, funding agreements shall be used, within the lawful powers of the NSC, FIFA, CAF and the relevant NFF bodies, to require the newly elected NFF Board to:

(a) accept the Handover Plan as a continuing institutional obligation of the NFF;

(b) formally adopt an implementation resolution at its first meeting and, in any event, not later than [number of days unclear in scan] days after taking office;

(c) complete every outstanding NFF governance, league, commercial, operational and football-development reform within the approved timetable; and

(d) submit quarterly progress reports to Congress, FIFA and CAF, with copies to the NSC, accompanied by a suitable public summary, together with separate reporting to the NSC on public funds and infrastructure.

6.7. The completion obligation shall run with the office and bind the Board collectively. It is not a personal promise by any one candidate. The elected Executive Committee shall not abandon or materially weaken an outstanding reform without documented reasons, all approvals required under the NFF, FIFA and CAF frameworks, and proper consultation with the NSC.

6.8. Any unfinished work shall be allocated according to legal power as follows:

(a) The elected NFF Executive Committee: NFF governance, operations, league reform, commercialisation, integrity, player welfare and football-development reforms.

(b) The NSC and other competent Nigerian authorities: legislation, public funding, public procurement and public infrastructure projects.

(c) FIFA and CAF: decisions, approvals and oversight reserved to them under their respective Statutes and regulations.

(d) All institutions: reasonable cooperation needed to complete the full Reform Programme without interfering with the lawful independence or reserved powers of another institution.

6.9. A failure by the elected NFF Executive Committee to carry out an outstanding obligation may, subject to due process, be addressed under the revised NFF Statutes, applicable FIFA and CAF rules, or the conditions of any relevant funding agreement.

7. IMPLEMENTATION, MONITORING AND REPORTING

7.1. A Joint Reform Coordination Group comprising up to two representatives each of the NSC, FIFA and CAF shall coordinate dependencies and monitor milestones.

Once appointed, the Normalisation Committee may participate as an observer or implementation partner. The Group shall not direct the Normalisation Committee or interfere with NFF autonomy.

7.2. The Group shall meet at least monthly during the normalisation period and at least quarterly thereafter. It shall maintain a concise action tracker showing each reform, the responsible institution, required deliverable, deadline, decision, funding dependency and material risk.

7.3. Each institution shall designate a focal person in writing and shall supply the information reasonably required for proper coordination, subject to confidentiality, data protection, institutional rules and the need to preserve the independence of electoral, disciplinary, ethics and appeal bodies.

7.4. Implementation reports shall distinguish between work completed, work in progress, decisions awaiting approval, funding dependencies and reforms that must transfer to the elected NFF Board or another competent institution.

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