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| Photo Credit — Shehu Dikko |
National Sports Commission (NSC) Chairman Shehu Dikko has said FIFA has endorsed the Nigerian government’s plan for a comprehensive reform of the country’s football administration. The statement follows the recent mass resignation of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) board and General Secretary, which left the federation without a legally constituted leadership.
Dikko made the disclosure in an interview with Arise News on Friday, 25 September, after meeting FIFA and Confederation of African Football (CAF) officials in Switzerland.
He explained that the resignations created a leadership vacuum because the NFF statutes contain no clear procedure for a situation in which the entire board and General Secretary step down at once. The Nigerian government therefore presented a set of reform proposals covering the wider structure and administration of football in the country.
According to Dikko, FIFA accepted both the resignations and the need for reform, while insisting that any transition must strictly follow the relevant statutes and regulations.
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FIFA may appoint a normalisation committee
Dikko indicated that FIFA could establish an independent normalisation committee to oversee the reform process. Such a committee is appointed by FIFA (not by the Nigerian government alone), operates under clear terms of reference and timelines, and typically lasts between six months and one year depending on the scope of the reforms.
Members of the committee must remain independent. Anyone who serves on it is barred from contesting future NFF elections or holding positions within the federation for a defined period. The committee reports directly to FIFA, consults with the Nigerian government, and is funded by FIFA.
Stakeholder consultations already under way
Consultations with members of the NFF Congress began on 24 September. Dikko said the government has shared its reform blueprint with Congress members for input. FIFA is expected to conduct an on-site visit to Nigeria later, during which broader stakeholder discussions will take place to refine the final document.
One of the planned changes involves the NFF electoral system. The government is considering a model in which presidential candidates must declare their full teams — including proposed vice-president, general secretary and other key officials — before the election. The aim is to make the process more transparent and ensure voters know the entire leadership slate they are supporting.
Dikko noted that the reforms will be divided into immediate, medium-term and long-term measures. Some changes may extend beyond the life of any normalisation committee and will be handed over to the next elected NFF leadership.
What this means
The development marks a significant step toward addressing long-standing governance challenges in Nigerian football. FIFA’s endorsement removes the immediate risk of sanctions related to the leadership vacuum, but the process must still respect FIFA’s rules against third-party interference.
Stakeholders will now watch the composition of any normalisation committee, the timeline for elections, and whether the promised structural changes deliver lasting improvements on and off the pitch.
Samuel O. Sulaimon is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Naijapiz. He covers news, politics, current affairs, education, and technology.
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