The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has called on the National Sports Commission (NSC) to urgently inaugurate its 17-member governing board, warning that the Commission’s continued operation without one violates its establishing law.

 

In a statement on Sunday by Secretary-General Amb. Ikenna Okonkwo, SWAN President Mr. Isaiah Benjamin noted that the NSC has been functioning without a statutory board since its creation in October 2024, contrary to provisions of the NSC Establishment Act 2023.

 

“As a statutory board member of the NSC, I’m compelled to urge the Chairman and Director-General to take all necessary steps to inaugurate the board without further delay,” Benjamin said, stressing that Section 2(1) of the Act clearly outlines its composition.

 

He warned that decisions taken since October 2024 lack legal backing and linked the governance gap to wider lapses in Nigerian sports administration, including disputes within the Nigeria Football Federation and controversies in the Athletics Federation of Nigeria.

 

SWAN also criticized its exclusion from key operational roles, particularly in appointing Communication Managers for sports federations, calling it a missed opportunity to leverage professional sports journalism for promotion and sponsorship growth.