NFF Act right by the door!

It was a long day, but it was worth it: The Public Hearing on the new NFF Bill organized by the Sports Committee of the House of Representatives. I really had no idea how some persons outside the chambers were able to follow proceedings (oh, there is facebook and there is twitter) but on switching […]

It was a long day, but it was worth it: The Public Hearing on the new NFF Bill organized by the Sports Committee of the House of Representatives. I really had no idea how some persons outside the chambers were able to follow proceedings (oh, there is facebook and there is twitter) but on switching on my phone, I had dozens of messages from across all spectra congratulating me on the turn-out of events.

I contend that I am not the one to applaud. One man who has worked so hard to get this Bill to this stage is Honourable Godfrey Ali Gaiya, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Sports. His deputy, Alhaja Ayo Omidiran (Member, FIFA Women’s Football Committee) and the other members of the committee have been wonderful.

The pro-activity of the present Sports Committee of the House, and the members’ being worthy of praise, can never be over-emphasised. We all must recall that the previous Session of the House received the Bill early enough as the present Session did, but could not get it passed in its lifetime.

Now, less than a year after resumption, the present House Sports Committee has seen the Bill through a Second Reading and organized a successful Public Hearing. Kudos!

It was also a thing of joy that the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports, Senator Adamu Ibrahim Gumba, decided to be at the House Committee’s Public Hearing. It spells synergy between both  Committees, and assurance that this is seen as being an issue of national (even international) importance.

Big applause for Honourable Gaiya for the way he opened the floor for the presentations, with a very articulate and flawless delivery. In the course of the day, someone stood up to tell the audience that Hon.  Gaiya was a prodigious football player during his days at the University of Ibadan. I was not surprised.

His knowledge of football and the politics, the intrigues and contentions, is remarkably deep. Even those who have been in football administration for decades applauded with excitement as Gaiya opened the floor with a display of his knowledge, awareness and elocution.

Appreciation also goes to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, who was ably represented by the Chairman of the House Committee of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Nnenna Ukeje-Elendu.

The Speaker assured that the House of Representatives will give all the support needed to the Sports Committee to repeal the old NFA Act 2004 and enact the new NFF Act 2012.

I also commend the Honourable Minister/Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, for his whole-hearted support for the new NFF Act, as delivered by the Director General, NSC, Chief (Dr) Patrick Ekeji.

As against what a section of the media reported, there is no truth to the impression that the NFF and NSC disagreed over the proposed Bill.

What happened was that the NFF’s Principal Legal Officer, Barrister Okey Obi gave a clause-by-clause interpretation and as endorsed by the Federation, pointed out clauses that are better left in the Statutes (the subsidiary legislation) and kept out of the Act (the enabling Law).

There are matters that the NFF Congress and the NFF Executive Committee can handle, and should such issues be embedded in the Act, it would be quite cumbersome and expensive to amend. As we argued on the floor of the Public Hearing, it has taken 20 years (from Decree 101 of 1992 that transmuted to NFA Act 2004) to amend the present one.

My thanks go to the former NFA Secretary General, a former Commissioner for Sports in Bauchi State and a former Member of the House of Reps, Hon. Sani Ahmed Toro for his eloquence and solid backing, as well as the immediate past Deputy Chairman of House Committee on Sports, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye for his huge vote.

There were also NOC President and former Sports Minister Sani Ndanusa, three Commissioners of Sports from three States, including Hon. Towoju from Kwara State who also spoke, as well as former NFF scribes Bolaji Ojo-Oba and Taiwo Ogunjobi, CAF General Coordinator Paul Bassey and Vice Chairman/CEO, Nigeria 2009 LOC Mainasara Illo.

Many people didn’t know that the Head Coach of the Senior National Team, Mr. Stephen Keshi also submitted a paper, in which he pleaded passionately for the repeal of the NFA Act 2004 and the enactment of the NFF Act 2012.

As I stated in my paper, the benefits of the repeal of the old Act and the enactment of the new one include the coming of harmony and focus for Nigeria football, peace and progress, greater support from Corporate Nigeria, development, good preparation of National Teams for competitions, higher chances of winning trophies, higher ranking for Nigeria, positive image for our dear country globally and boost to the country’s economy.

Thank You, FIFA…

This is an expression of appreciation to world football-governing body, FIFA for the warm reception accorded the Nigeria delegation to the meeting with FIFA President Sepp Blatter last week.

The Honourable Minister/Chairman, NSC, Mallam Bolaji Ojo-Oba, the Ambassador/Permanent Representative of the Permanent Mission of Nigeria to the United Nations Office at Geneva, His Excellency, Mr. Umunna Orjiako, myself and the NFF General Secretary, Barrister Musa Amadu had a very good meeting with FIFA President Blatter, Director of National Associations, Thierry Regenaff, Manager of NAs and Primo Corvaro.

We had an exciting 15 minutes session because the FIFA President had to travel same day to Rio de Janeiro with President Dilma Rouseff of Brazil in Rio.

Get The Job Done, Girls…

The U-17 Women National Team, Flamingoes, go up against their counterparts from Zambia this afternoon, in the second leg of their African final qualifying fixture for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Azerbaijan 2012.

Our girls won the first leg 2-1 in Lusaka a fortnight ago and are in the best position to earn a ticket to Azerbaijan. Venue is the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta. Dear Nigerians, please let us get behind the girls to see them qualify for the World Cup.

NEXT WEEK: Let Us Eschew Violence In Our Stadia