The Nationwide League One Clubs,NLO has argued that it will be unfair and unjust to continue to exclude a critical interest group as the lower tier league investing in youth empowerment and development.
In a letter addressed to the chairman of the Statutes Amendment Committee of the NFF through the General Secretary of the NFF, Sanusi Mohammed, the NLO Clubs said they are under represented and their voices not heard.
It added “Currently, these hundreds of stakeholders are represented only by a single league body, which does not allow for the diverse regional voices of club owners to be adequately heard”.
The NLO Clubs proposed a statutory amendment to the statutes “to provide for six (6) permanent seats in the NFF Congress, allocated to one active Club Chairman from each of the six geopolitical zones.”
The pointed out “ We propose that these representatives must meet a strict criteria of at least 10 years of active football participation and administration to ensure high-level contributions to the Congress.”
They argued “the 600+ clubs of the NLO—the actual lifeblood and primary investors in Nigerian grassroots football—remain without direct representation”
The letter signed by Nwaeze Prince Chidiebere read in part : “The NLO is the largest league tier in Nigeria. These clubs are the primary employers of youth talent and the biggest individual investors in local football development.”
Find below the NLO Clubs ;letter to the Statutes Amendment Committee:
The Chairman,
Statutes Amendment Committee,
Nigeria Football Federation (NFF),
Package B, National Stadium, Abuja.
THROUGH: The General Secretary, NFF.
SUBJECT: FORMAL APPEAL FOR THE INCLUSION OF NATIONWIDE LEAGUE ONE (NLO) CLUB REPRESENTATION IN THE NFF CONGRESS.
Dear Sir,
We write to the Statutes Amendment Committee regarding the current review of the NFF Statutes to formally advocate for a more equitable composition of the NFF Congress. Our appeal is for the inclusion of direct NLO Club Representation as permanent, voting members of the Congress.
The Argument for Representation
The NFF Congress currently grants membership to various interest groups, including the National Association for Physical and Health Education, Recreation, Sports and Dance (NAPHER-SD). While these bodies contribute to the broader sports ecosystem, it is fundamentally inconsistent that a specialized educational association holds a seat while the 600+ clubs of the NLO—the actual lifeblood and primary investors in Nigerian grassroots football—remain without direct representation.
The NLO is the largest league tier in Nigeria. These clubs are the primary employers of youth talent and the biggest individual investors in local football development. Currently, these hundreds of stakeholders are represented only by a single league body, which does not allow for the diverse regional voices of club owners to be adequately heard.
Our Proposed Statutory Amendment
We urge the Committee to amend the statutes to provide for six (6) permanent seats in the NFF Congress, allocated to one active Club Chairman from each of the six geopolitical zones. We propose that these representatives must meet a strict criteria of at least 10 years of active football participation and administration to ensure high-level contributions to the Congress.
Conclusion
For the NFF to truly reflect its mandate of inclusivity, the grassroots investors who sustain the game must have a seat at the table.
Adopting this amendment will align the NFF with global best practices of stakeholder participation as recommended by FIFA and CAF.
We look forward to your favorable consideration of this structural reform.
Yours in Sports,
Nwaeze Prince Chidiebere
