National Assembly Passes The NFF Act

Nigeria National Assembly has passed the Nigeria Football Federation act which makes NFF the sole body meant to run football matter in Nigeria.

Some of the notable changes are the repeal of the Nigeria Football Association Act and Establishment of the Nigeria Football Federation, the amendments also saw the body given autonomy to run football in the country and are also entitled to periodic grants from the Federal Government.

Here is the Outline of the NFF BILL 2019 as passed by the National Assembly (HoR and Senate)

Repeal the NFA Act and Established the NFF

1. Recognizes NFF as the sole body in charge of football administration, management and regulations in Nigeria in line with its Statutes as approved by FIFA.
2. Recognizes Football as a National Asset and thus entitled to special privileges, concessions and from time to time to receive grants, subventions and or appropriation from Government in furtherance to its objectives and functions and to facilitate the overall development of football in Nigeria ensure its sustainable growth.
3. Recognizes the NFF statutes as drafted and approved by the members as its congress and ratified by FIFA as the supreme law for the Governance of the functioning, organization, administration, and operations of the Federation.
4. Recognises that’s the NFF statutes may be amended from time to time in accordance with the procedures and processes stipulated in the Statutes. The Federation shall deposit its statutes as may be amended from time to time with the National Assembly and the agency of the Federal Government in charge of sports for information and guidance.
5. Recognises that, the subject of Audit for subsidies, grants and or appropriation received from Government by the Federation, control of legality, public order and safety shall be within the exclusive competence of the Government.
6. Recognizes further that the Federation and its members shall be self-governed by the Federation and its bodies according to its statues and regulations as well as those that are determined by WAFU, CAF, and FIFA.
7. NFF to be constituted, organized and operated as provided in its statutes – mainly as a private sector driven and a self-governing non-profit sports body.
8. All disputes should be resolved as provided in the alternative disputes resolution mechanisms enshrined in the NFF statutes and other football governing bodies FIFA and CAS whose decision is final.
9. Participation in activities of NFF being voluntary, its members and all participants shall be deemed to have undertaken to waive their rights to take internal disputes of the NFF and football matters to ordinary courts of law and resolve all disputes through the alternative dispute resolution mechanisms provided in the Statutes.
10. NFF Congress, Executive Committee and other bodies shall be established, composed and operated in line with the NFF statutes as approved FIFA.
11. In addition to criteria stipulated in NFF statutes, for a person to be member of NFF Executive Committee, and to guarantee diligent performance in office, he/she must pledge a bank guarantee as an indemnity (to guarantee diligent performance) to cover the period of the mandate in a manner and form as determined by the Congress.
12. Clear-cut and transparent financial management structure, including requirements for NFF to publish its annual audited account in a minimum of two national dailies and obligation to keep its accurate Audited accounts for inspection by members, upon approval.
13. Clear-cut process and conditions on how Government will support the NFF financially, if needed, through Grants, subvention and or appropriations to the only cover shortfall between the NFF budgets, based on its activities for the year, and its sponsorship revenues. Thus, the benchmark/target is for NFF to quickly work to ensure it reaches self-funding.
14. Clear-cut process and how FGN may support Football by giving the National broadcaster funds to buy media and broadcast rights from NFF and the leagues at commercially viable terms and broadcast the football events through the networks. (Similar to Morrocco model)
15. Clear-cut process for FGN to confer benefits, concessions, tax rebates to companies sponsoring football.
16. Confers powers on FGN, subject to the approval of National Assembly to issue special regulations, tariffs, and concessions to specific companies, industries, business sectors etc with the objective of raising funds and or provide the enabling environment for football development (including infrastructure provision and development) as a national asset.
17. The NFF to organize and operate its general secretariat as provided under its statutes and employ the personal and staff under its standard employments contact as done in the private sector.
18. Appointment of independent auditors for the NFF as provided in the statutes with the exclusive rights/powers to audit funds or grant given to NFF by Government reserved for Government.
19. Strengthening domestic football with professional leagues as the driver etc and the requirement for full compliance to the club licensing regulations of the federation as a condition to participating in the competitions organised and managed by the league.
20. Streamlining and enhancement of transparency in the transfer of Players from Nigeria.
21. Requirements, subject to the provisions of the act and the statutes of the federation, for the federation to faithfully and diligently collaborate and work in partnership with the agency of the FGN in charge of sports and other relevant government agencies in the pursuance of its objectives and discharge of its functions; provided that no action of such collaboration will be inconsistent or in conflict with the rules and regulations of any international federation to which the federation may be affiliated to from time to time .
22. Generally, the NFF BILL passed provided the framework for the domestication of the NFF and FIFA statutes; provide the enabling environment to ensure good governance, management and operations of the NFF and sustainable development of Football in Nigeria in line to the best international standards.