Femi Solaja
The House of Representatives Committee on Sports is to hold a public hearing today on the bill proposing to repeal the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) Act.
The Upper Chamber of the National Assembly (the Senate) had earlier conducted its own hearing on the same NFA act and passed it.
Today’s public hearing in the lower chamber is scheduled to hold at the Conference Room 028, New building of the Assembly complex in Abuja starting from 10 am.
In a paid advertisement signed by Rt. Hon Goni Bukar Lawan, the House Committee on Sports is inviting the general public and stakeholders to vent their airs on the bill seeking to repeal the Nigeria Football Association Act, CAP. N110, Law of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and enact the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Act.
Another bill for discussion at today’s hearing is the Act establishing the Nigeria Sports Anti-dropping Agency, the body responsible for carrying out all functions of the Nigerian anti-doping organisation.
The committee will also discuss the bill for an Act to provide for the Administration and Management of Sports in the country.
This body is to handle the establishment of sports institutions and facilities, harness sports development and to encourage and promote drug-free sports and recreation in Nigeria.
Over the years, football stakeholders have clamoured for the autonomy of the Glass House from government control. But the government that has been funding almost all its activities has been exerting influence through the supervising Federal Ministry of Sports.
Total government control has made it impossible for any incumbent president of the NFF (A) to seek re-election and most corporate bodies shy away from partnering the football federation.
The administration of Alhaji Sani Lulu Abdullahi at its 2008 Congress approved the change of the then NFA to NFF in line with FIFA Statues.
However, that change remained mere paper work as it has no legal backing.
