Senator John Owan Enoh •Demands action plan leading to final amendment with definite timelines Sports Minister, Senator John Owan Enoh, has directed the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to conclude the amendment of its statutes to address the country’s situation within the next one year.The minister also directed the federation to submit to his office the timeline leading to the final amendment of the statute.Speaking during a meeting with the NFF board recently, Enoh said the federation’s new statute should accommodate all interest groups to avoid the constant litigations that have recently dogged the body.The minister, who recognised NFF’s unique position as custodian of Nigeria’s football, reminded the federation that the world football governing body, FIFA, recognised each countries peculiar situations, hence the liberty it gives these countries to handle their game to suit their purpose.He said: “If FIFA recognises the unique situations in each country as you mentioned, then NFF does not need to wait for the universal statute as it may not cover those unique situations and we may not have control of the timelines.
Rather, NFF should initiate and conclude all expected amendments and approval within the next one year and send to FIFA.“NFF should submit action plan leading to the final amendment of the statute with definite timelines to the office of the Minister of Sports Development, as we need to make progress and bring this to a positive conclusion on or before one year.“There should be an expansion of the NFF’s congress to accommodate other stakeholders.
NFF’s congress should be such that it is proportionally representative enough of all interests for the good of the sport.”He added: “We need to save our football