A Review of the Nigeria Football Federation Bill
By JOHN NNONA AND NTA EKPIKEN
JUL 2019 NEWS

A Bill for an Act to repeal the Nigeria Football Association Act and enact the Nigeria Football Federation Act (“NFF Act”) has been passed by the Nigerian Senate at the National Assembly. Several commentators have opined that the Bill when passed into law will set football in Nigeria on a path for greatness as the Nigerian Football Federation (“NFF”) will be able to function effectively and independent of government interference.

We believe it is the sole aim of the proponents of this bill to set up a structure that allows for the effective organization of football in Nigeria, particularly as the game cannot thrive amidst continuous government interference. This is so as Article 19 of FIFA Statutes provides that “Each member shall manage its affairs independently and without undue influence from third parties.” While we admit that the intentions of the proponents of the Bill might be genuine, the contents of the Bill, and questions surrounding its constitutionality raise a lot of concerns that we intend to deliberate on in the foregoing paragraphs.

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Truth

Evolving an appropriate legal framework for the administration of Nigerian football has been a thorny issue which has widespread legal implications for the Nigeria Football Federation. The infamous Decree 101 was reputed to be one of the tools used by the Government to maintain it’s strangle-hold on football administration in Nigeria. This legal conundrum ultimately culminated in acrimonious litigations by aggrieved parties with the sport being negatively impacted. Even regulatory issues revolving around football administration had to be ventilated in the regular courts in spite of the provisions of the FIFA statutes confirming the contrary.

On several occasions, the FIFA hammer of indefinite ban dangled over the head of Nigerian football like the sword of Damocles following the ventilation of one football related matter or the other in Court. The authorities would however, scurry close to the deadline to resolve whatever issue that has generated the controversy and pretend all is well again, at least until another litigation is filed by an aggrieved Federation member. This has been a recurrent cycle for more than two decades.

Thankfully, it appears we are about to experience some light at the end of the tunnel with the passage of the Bill to repeal the Nigeria Football Association Act. Following the consideration and the passage of the Bill for an Act to repeal the Act and enact the Nigeria Football Federation and other matters connected therewith 2019 by the Senate and the House of Representatives, on Tuesday, 30th May, 2017 and Thursday, 8th March, 2018 respectively. Accordingly, the Senator Obinna Ogba-led Senate Committee and Hon. Danburam Abubakar Nuhu-led House of Representatives Committee set up a Conference committee to reconcile the areas of differences and came up with a report sometime in May, 2019. The thrust of this article is to highlight the major areas of the proposed amendments in the Bill and their impact on football development in Nigeria.

https://www.completesports.com/highlights-of-the-proposed-bill-for-establishment-of-nigeria-football-federation-other-connected-matters-therewith-2019/