According to a communique issued at the end of the NFF Executive Committee meeting in Abeokuta on Tuesday, directed the Secretariat to put all machinery in motion to ensure that from 2020/2021 season, all the players in the Nigeria National League should have a legal representation and that all the clubs should endeavor to register their clubs on TMS, this will enable the clubs to secure their investment on their players and guide against poachers and also approved that the NNL will start on the 16th January 2021.
Here is the full texts of the communique issued at the end of the congress…
COMMUNIQUE OF THE MEETING OF NFF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE HELD AT CONFERENCE HOTEL, ABEOKUTA ON MONDAY, 28TH DECEMBER 2020
The Executive Committee of Nigeria Football Federation met on Monday, 28th December 2020 to deliberate on important issues in Nigerian Football and resolved as follows:
2) The Executive Committee once more expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for deliberate, integrated and sustained campaigns, policies, strategies and methods which have helped to minimize the impact of the coronavirus pandemic in the country at large and on the football sector in particular. It noted and praised the efforts of the Presidential Task Force, the Ministry of Health, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, and pledged that everything would be done to adhere strictly to the COVID-19 protocols issued by the relevant authorities even as the Government has graciously allowed the return of contact sports without fans in the arena.
4) In furtherance to the above, the Executive Committee directed the various Leagues to report to the Football Committee, on monthly basis, its efforts in organization/full adherence to COVID-19 protocols as well as Club Licensing Regulations, and whatever challenges they may have. The Football Committee is to brief the Executive Committee accordingly.
6) Also related to the successful organization and observance of best practices at venues of matches of the Nigeria Professional Football League and the Nigeria Women Football League, the Executive Committee instructed the League Management Company to offset outstanding entitlements of match officials and Members of the Referees Appointment Committee once it receives the first tranche of payment from partners, Redstrike. The NFF Secretariat and the NFF Football Committee are mandated to ensure strict compliance with this directive.
7) The Executive Committee also approved the mooted date of Saturday, 16th January 2021 for the commencement of the Season 2020-2021 of the Nigeria National League, and Wednesday, 10th February 2021 for the commencement of the new season for the Nigeria Nationwide League One.
8) While appreciating the COVID-19 pandemic ravages on businesses worldwide, the Executive Committee resolved, in view of shrinking funds and the reality that the Government will definitely be inclined to allocate more resources to other critical sectors of the economy, to hold its partners and sponsors to full compliance with terms and conditions of their contract agreements, while also pledging that the NFF will always do everything possible to give them optimum mileage and exposure at all its matches, events, programmes, activities and publications.
9) As a way of getting the Senior Women National Team, Super Falcons, busy in a period of long inactivity occasioned by the postponement of the 12th edition of the Women Africa Cup of Nations to year 2022, the Executive Committee approved a proposal by its Technical and Development Sub-Committee for the team to participate in a tournament in Turkey and two-match tour of Morocco in February 2021.
10) Despite the cancellation of the 2021 FIFA U17 World Cup finals by the world football –governing body, the Executive Committee resolved to allow the U17 Boys National Team, Golden Eaglets, to participate in the upcoming WAFU B Tournament with a view to qualifying for the 2021 Africa U17 Cup of Nations, as it sees the youth tournaments as developmental programmes for the purpose of discovering talents for the senior teams.
11) As a result of the unfortunate second wave of the coronavirus pandemic, the planned physical inauguration of the newly –constituted NFF Sub-Committees could not hold. In the event, a symbolic inauguration was performed by the NFF President. He pledged that the Sub-Committees will be even more empowered to function adequately in line with their terms of reference. Chairman of the Women Football Committee, Alhaja Hulayat Ayo Omidiran responded on behalf of all the Chairmen of the Sub-Committees, thanking the Executive Committee for the opportunity to serve and pledging that the members would work assiduously for the development and improvement of Nigerian Football. The Chairmen of the Sub-Committees have been mandated to swing into action immediately.
IN ATTENDANCE: Amaju Melvin Pinnick (President); Seyi Akinwunmi (1st Vice President); Shehu Dikko (2nd Vice President); Ibrahim Musa Gusau (Member); Yusuf Ahmed ‘Fresh’ (Member); Suleiman Yahaya-Kwande (Member); Babagana Kalli (Member); Sharif Rabiu Inuwa (Member); Ganiyu Majekodunmi (Member); Aisha Falode (Member); Mohammed Alkali (Member); Mohammed Sanusi (Secretary).
