There are very strong indications that the NFF may have openly defied the orders of the Presidency and also acted in total disregard to the Public Service Rules (PSR) by re-appointing Mohammed Sanusi as General Secretary for a further three years.
SCORENigeria understands that Mohammed Sanusi has been given a new contract from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2027.
This move by the NFF will now be the first and biggest challenge for the leadership of the newly-created National Sports Commission (NSC) after it was given a marching order to re-organise the NFF secretariat with a new and purposeful headship.
Mohammed Sanusi was first appointed the chief executive of Nigeria Football in 2015.
Based on credible information, this was to be his last month as GS after several extensions.
His nine years as GS have been tarnished by allegations of corruption, incompetence, mismanagement and nepotism.
Past and present leadership of the NFF have pushed for the re-appointment of Sanusi for continuity, but critics say it is more to protect and advance their many and varied personal interests.
The top official himself has vigorously lobbied top Government officials to continue on the job that pays him $10,000 a month.
The NFF are a parastatal under the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The football federation enjoy budgetary allocations from the FGN and are run by public servants.
Previously, the NFF chief executive or General Secretary was seconded from the Sports Ministry.
However, in recent years this position has been a contract one to attract the best technocrats and the NFF Executive Committee has the power under its Statutes to appoint this principal officer.
The Federal Government Public Service Rules describes a contract appointment as a temporary appointment, not pensionable and for a specific period (PSR 2021 020402).
Further to this, the duration of contract appointment should be one (1) or two (2) years and renewable but not more than four (4) years in all, according PSR 2012 020405 (7).
In addition to this, the composition of the current NFF leadership has failed to reflect federal character as both the president and the GS are from Northwest.
It is now left for critical stakeholders to ensure fresh and purpose-driven hands are afforded the opportunity to steer the NFF in the right direction as ordered by the Presidency.
