By Ado Salisu
Following Thursday’s resignations of Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau as President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Dr Mohammed Sanusi as General Secretary, and members of the Executive Committee, the National Sports Commission has endorsed Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme, the former Deputy General Secretary, to oversee the NFF Secretariat as Interim General Secretary.
Dr Ademola Olajire, the former Director of Media and Communications, will serve as Interim Deputy General Secretary.
All processes initiated in preparation for the NFF Elective Congress scheduled for September 27 have also been suspended.
A fresh electoral process will commence following the completion of the anticipated comprehensive reforms, which will be undertaken in consultation with world football’s governing bodies, FIFA and CAF.
Furthermore, the chairmen, appointed directors and chief executive officers of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), Nigeria National League (NNL), Nigeria Women’s Football League and Nationwide League One have been directed to hand over the administration of their respective leagues to their Chief Operating Officers (COOs), who are members of staff of the NFF.
Where the COO is not a member of the NFF staff, the Acting General Secretary shall deploy a new COO from the Federation.
The interim measures are intended to ensure continuity in the administration of Nigerian football during the transition, pending the conclusion of engagements with FIFA, CAF, the government and other stakeholders to design a roadmap for the comprehensive reforms envisaged for Nigerian football.
Further changes and directives will be communicated in due course.