The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Congress has endorsed comprehensive reforms of Nigerian football but insists that any transition must respect Nigerian law, the NFF Statutes and applicable FIFA and CAF regulations.
The position comes amid the leadership crisis currently affecting the NFF following the resignation of the NFF President, members of the Executive Committee and the General Secretary. According to a reform proposal dated September 2026, the Congress acknowledged that the resignations have created a serious governance vacuum but maintained that the NFF itself has not been dissolved and that its constitutional institutions remain relevant.
NFF Congress Proposes Extraordinary Congress
The NFF Congress proposed that the reform process should begin with the activation of an Extraordinary Congress to address the current leadership vacancies.
It wants the process to subsequently include a review of the NFF Statutes and Electoral Code, verification of electoral constituencies and stakeholder structures, technical review by FIFA and CAF, formal adoption of reforms and, ultimately, the conduct of fresh elections.
The Congress believes this approach would allow Nigerian football to resolve the current crisis while maintaining institutional continuity.
Caretaker Committee Proposed for 3–6 Months
As part of the transition, the Congress proposed the establishment of a Caretaker Committee with a mandate of between three and six months.
The proposed committee would be responsible for stabilising the Federation and facilitating the statutory process leading to elections. The Congress stressed that the caretaker arrangement should operate under the NFF Statutes and must not become a substitute for elected governance.
The proposed members are Christopher Green, Esq.; Hon. Abubakar Ladan; Mr. L. A. Haruna, SAN; Engineer Waheed Akanni; Rukayat Segilola Alaya; Coach Oko Victor Ndubuisi; and Professor Tor Iorapuu.
Congress Rejects Normalisation Committee as First Option
One of the strongest positions in the proposal concerns the possibility of a Normalisation Committee.
The Congress argues that such a mechanism should be an exceptional measure rather than the starting point of the reform process. It should only be considered if FIFA formally determines that the NFF’s existing statutory institutions cannot lawfully or practically resolve the situation.
The Congress instead wants FIFA and CAF to provide technical assistance, recognition and oversight, while allowing the NFF’s constitutional institutions to retain their responsibilities.
Proposed NFF Elections Within Six Months
Under the proposed roadmap, elections and the handover to new elected leadership could take place around the fifth or sixth month of the transition.
Before then, the Congress wants the Statutes and Electoral Code reviewed and, where necessary, amended. It also proposes verification of the voters’ register, transparent nominations, eligibility checks, secret balloting and effective appeal mechanisms.
The Congress believes these measures are necessary to ensure that the next NFF elections are credible, transparent and properly grounded in the Federation’s governing framework.
Broader Reforms for Nigerian Football
The reform proposal goes beyond the immediate leadership crisis. The NFF Congress is calling for major changes in governance, league administration, commercialisation, funding, infrastructure, player welfare, women’s football, youth development and grassroots football.
It supports professionalising Nigeria’s leagues, stronger club licensing and greater commercial investment. However, it wants major financial commitments to be subjected to proper financial and commercial assessments.
The Congress also called for transparent agreements, procurement procedures, independent audits and regular reporting where public funds are involved.
Congress Wants Broader Representation
The proposal also calls for broader representation of key football stakeholders, including players, coaches, referees, clubs, leagues, women’s football, youth football and grassroots interests.
However, the Congress maintains that any changes to its membership or voting rights must be made through the constitutional procedures of the NFF.
The proposal notes that the 2026 NFF Statute increased Congress membership from 44 to 53 voting members, while a proposed broader representation model would involve 146 members holding 73 voting mandates.
Reform Roadmap Could Extend to 24 Months
The Congress has proposed an eight-phase reform roadmap covering six to 24 months.
The first month would focus on institutional stabilisation and convening the competent Congress. Months one to two would involve legal, governance and financial diagnostics and stakeholder consultations, while months two to four would focus on constitutional and governance reforms.
Formal adoption of reforms and electoral preparation would follow, with elections and handover targeted around the fifth or sixth month. The remaining phases would focus on longer-term implementation, commercial development, player welfare, youth and women’s football, grassroots development, infrastructure and independent evaluation.
NFF Congress: Reform Must Not Undermine Football Autonomy
At the heart of the proposal is the Congress’s insistence that reform must strengthen Nigerian football rather than weaken its constitutional institutions.
The Congress acknowledges the role of government in supporting football through public funding, infrastructure and legislation, but warns that such support should not translate into control over the NFF’s internal administration.
It also argues that no reform body should use the reform process to amend the NFF Statutes, alter Congress membership, appoint or remove officials or take control of the electoral process unless such powers are constitutionally provided.
What Happens Next?
The NFF Congress has effectively presented a football-led alternative to a wholesale restructuring of the Federation. Its preferred route is to activate the appropriate Congress, address the leadership vacuum, review the governing statutes, verify electoral structures and then conduct elections.
With FIFA and CAF currently assessing the situation surrounding the NFF, the next major development could come from their engagement with Nigerian football stakeholders and any joint assessment mission to Abuja.
For now, the Congress’s position is unequivocal: Nigerian football needs comprehensive reform, but the reform must be lawful, transparent, democratic and driven through the constitutional structures of the NFF.
