Implementation Of Oronsaye Report Will Guarantee Independence Of Nigerian Football–Stakeholders

The  implementation of the Stephen Oronsaye report, conducted to restructure and rationalise parastatals, commissions, agencies and recommended that the Federal Government of Nigeria stops funding the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), would guarantee the total independence and autonomy of the NFF and make football more attractive for investors to fund the game, key football stakeholders have said.

According to a portion of the Oronsaye Report, focusing on the “Nigeria Football Federation (NFF)/Nigeria Football Association (NFA), the committee recommends as follows that (1) The enabling law of the NFA be amended to reflect the directive of FIFA that the organization should be renamed a ‘federation’,” stated the Oronsaye Report.“This will stop further debate on the current controversial status of the organization and (ii)that Government stops further funding of the NFA/NFF in accordance with FIFA’s Statutes.”

Speaking in an interview with reporters, a former Super Falcons coach, Godwin Izilein said it was high time the NFF had full autonomy to run Nigerian football without interference from the government, in line with the practice in other countries, where their football federations enjoy unfettered freedom.

”It is good that President Muhammadu Buhari wants to implement the Oronsaye Report as it relates to the NFF. If it comes on stream, our football will become more profitable, enjoy greater freedom, promote creativity and generally draw more investors into the game as they feel better doing business with a body that is not tied to the apron strings of the government”, said Izilein, who also coached the Nigeria’s U-17 team, the Golden Eaglets.

Also sinking his teeth into the issue, ex-international, Paul.Okoku, said ”football would be better run in an atmosphere without interference but the NFF has to show greater transparency and accountability as it seeks private sector funding as these companies demand accountability for.money invested in football.”All the same, it is a welcome development if the NFF is allowed to look for money outside government quarters in order to stop undue meddling by government, which they cry can draw FIFA wrath and hammer”, added Okoku.

The implementation of the Oronsaye Report does foreclose the government from funding grassroots football development and provision of sporting facilities and create the enabling environment for the NFF to source for private-sector funding to cater for the national teams except the men and women National U-23 teams, who are Olympic teams and babies of the federal government.