LMC SACK: Sunday Dare Jump Starts Domestic Football Reforms

The sack of the notorious contraption called the League Management Company (LMC) is a good tiding from the office of the Hon. Minister for Sports and Youth Development this morning, the 9th of September 2022.

The LMC was deliberately contrived by its promoters to defraud Nigeria Football.

This was a well-orchestrated scam backed by the leadership of the outgoing NFF Board.

Almost 50 Million United States Dollars realised from sponsorships in the first six years of its operations found its way into private pockets.

The PFAN Task Force further respectfully urges the Hon. Minister to do the following:

(1)The LMC should show Football Stakeholders and Nigerians the assets it is leaving behind for the Interim Management Committee (IMC) after 10 years of managing the NPFL.

This is because Chief Oyiuki Obaseki of blessed memory, Prince Davidson Owumi, Chief Rumson Baribote-led Board in few years of their operations left massive assets for the NPL –  a building housing the NPL headquarters was outrightly acquired, official cars/ buses, good welfare packages for staff and up to date and prompt payments of match indemnities.

And above all, fantastic relationships with their sponsors.

(2) The NPFL as the flagship of Nigeria’s domestic football should be assisted with a take-off grant from the Federal Government of Nigeria for the IMC to operate in the interim until the battered Image of the NPFL already tainted with several dubious transactions and pending litigations are properly cleaned up.

(3) An independent panel or committee of enquiry into the activities of the LMC from inception particularly as it concerns public funds received by way of sponsorships for the development of football in Nigeria.

The PFAN Task Force appreciates the bold and pragmatic step by the Hon. Minister to jump start the much-needed reforms in our domestic football by sacking the LMC.

BY HARRISON JALLA, Chairman PFAN Task Force