RismadarVoice Reporters
September 5, 2026
Following President Bola Tinubu’s directive for comprehensive structural reforms in Nigerian football, sports policy analysts and stakeholders have presented a proposal to restructure the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Congress.
The development follows FIFA’s authorisation allowing the National Sports Commission to establish an Interim Management Committee (IMC) after the recent resignation of the Ibrahim Gusau-led board. Analysts maintain that addressing governance failures within the NFF requires structural reform of its highest decision-making body, the Congress.
Under the existing statute, 37 Football Association (FA) Chairmen constitute the primary voting bloc. Critics contend this framework fosters a transactional system where administrative loyalty supersedes technical and grassroots development.
The proposed reform seeks to decentralise electoral power by expanding voting rights across key technical, administrative, and institutional sectors:
State FA Chairmen: Reduced from 37 individual votes to 6 zonal representatives, establishing a regional administrative structure.
Players’ Union:Granted 12 seats (2 per geopolitical zone) to ensure primary athletes have substantial voting influence regarding policy.
Sports Media: Allocated 12 seats (2 per geopolitical zone) to integrate media oversight and external governance accountability.
Coaches & Referees: Allocated 6 representatives each (1 per geopolitical zone) to embed technical expertise in decision-making.
Club Owners & Private Academies: Granted 6 seats each to represent professional and grassroots talent development centres.
Corporate Sponsors: Allocated 6 positions for major commercial partners to drive financial transparency and investment alignment.
Grassroots & Education Sectors: Allocated 6 representatives for School Sports and 6 for Physical Education practitioners holding advanced professional qualifications.
Reserved 6 seats for Persons with Disabilities (PWD) sports associations aligning with FIFA inclusion mandates and 4 seats for Security Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Police).
The proposal outlines an 82-member voting assembly designed to prevent monopolistic control by any single bloc. Participating associations would hold internal elections at least 60 days before any NFF Congress to select their accredited representatives.
Stakeholders have urged the newly formed IMC to draft the proposed statutory amendments and convene an Extraordinary Congress within 60 days to adopt the new governance structure ahead of upcoming executive elections.
