PFAN Demands Amendments Of NFF Statutes For NFF Polls
The Players Union, PFAN, has demanded for amendments of the NFF Statutes 2010 as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari before next month’s Elections to the NFF Executive Committee.
This was one of the key decisions the country’s players union National Administrative Council (NAC) and the Board of Trustees took when it met in Abuja at the weekend.
The Footballers bloc again took exception to the membership of the NFF Congress, which is skewed in favour of the State FA Chairmen, and so the need for immediate reforms as ordered by President Buhari.
The Union will continue to brainstorm regularly leading up to the NFF Elections next month.
THE FULL COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALLERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (PFAN) NATIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE COUNCIL (NAC) AND THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING HELD ON THE 30th JULY, 2022, AT DIVEMER HOTEL, ABUJA, TO DELIBERATE ON THE FORTHCOMING NIGERIAN FOOTBALL FEDERATION (NFF) ELECTIONS
Preamble
Following the Presidential and Ministerial directives to the NFF on the need to carry out holistic reforms on the statute of the NFF Board, the National Administrative Council of PFAN entered into discussions to appraise the readiness of PFAN for the September elections.
At the end of the deliberations, the following decisions were reached:
1. The NAC in session unreservedly applauded the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, and the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare, for the directive to the NFF to carry out reforms on the NFF’s statute .
2.The NAC condemned in the strongest terms a situation where the NFF Statute allotted 37 votes out of the 44 votes to only 1 (the FA) member out of the 5 statutory members, leaving the other four members, i.e., Footballers, the Referees, the Coaches, and the League with only 7 votes.
3. The NAC noted that Nigeria’s football would continue to go down the hill because there is no way the Board can make progress with the skewed retrogressive voting powers conferred on the FA as none of the 37 FA Chairmen can look at the NFF President in the face and objectively tell him the truth or suggest how best to run football in Nigeria.
4. The PFAN Task Force Chairman, Comrade Harrison Jalla, who has been the arrowhead for equity and justice in the NFF for the marginalized footballers, officially handed the task force interim report to the PFAN president, Comrade Tijani Babangida, MON.
5. President Tijani Babangida, on behalf of the Executive Council, commended the PFAN Task Force for a well-done job.
6. The President and the Executive council of PFAN commended PFAN members for their exemplary sacrifices and resoluteness in the struggle to liberate the Nigerian Footballer from enslavement.
7. The NAC in session resolved that the PFAN Task Force should not relent in its advocacy to ensure that the Board positions should be equitably distributed among the five statutory members, i.e.., the State FAs, the Players Union, the Referees, the Coaches, and the League.
8. The NAC, in session, observed the need for PFAN to build a solid strategic alliance with the Media for its voice to be heard in pursuing equity, justice, and fairness for the ex- and current footballers, that have been so marginalized in the scheme of things.
9. The NAC, in session, appealed to the PFAN President and the PFAN Task Force to ensure that no stone is left unturned towards putting effect to the directives of the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, and the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare to the NFF to amend its Statutes at its forthcoming AGA in August 2022.
10. The PFAN President commended Taraba, Delta, Kaduna, Kwara, Ekiti, Benue, Edo, Bauchi, and Lagos states for their achievements and laudable steps they have taken in the development of grassroots football.
11. The NAC, in session, reaffirmed its support for PFAN President Tijani Babangida, MON, and his Administrative Council and urged them not to relent in the drive for equity within the NFF family.
12. The NAC, in session, resolved that the PFAN Executive Council constitutes two committees: the PFAN Implementation Committee and the PFAN Nigerian League Committee. The first will be saddled with the responsibility of seeing to the success of all PFAN Projects and Policies, while the latter shall monitor, investigate, and report on all the leagues in the country, i.e., NPFL; NWPFL, NWFL, NNL, NLO, Match venues, Officiating, Security and Players welfare.
13. The NAC in session recommended the appointment of Mrs. Rotimi Michael, an Ex-international footballer, as the PFAN Director of Women Affairs and to coordinate the affairs of the PFAN FCT Branch in the interim.
14. The NAC, in session, resolved that the PFAN President directs the secretariat to revalidate its membership with the Trade Union Congress (TUC).
15. The NAC, in session, resolved that the President directs the secretariat to expedite action in meeting with the NHIS directors to secure a Health Insurance Scheme for Nigerian Footballers.
16. The NAC, in session, resolved that a brainstorming meeting be held every fortnight until the NFF elections in September.
17.The PFAN President and the NAC congratulated Chief Barrister Rumson Baribote for his call to Bar while commending his loyalty and sacrifices.
COMMUNIQUE DRAFTING COMMITTEE;
1. Emmanuel Babayaro MON GS.
2. Edema Fuludu DGD.
3. Dr. Brown Ogbeifu.
