There are clear indicators that the reform process being driven by Shehu Dikko, the National Sports Commission Chairman, is shrouded in secrecy and being dressed in the deceitful garb of FIFA.
A process that is supposed to be homegrown, open, and transparent to stakeholders cannot be conducted in this manner.
Other than stories being pushed by the National Sports Commission’s media cronies, there have been no official statements from the National Sports Commission since the clamour for change reached its climax three weeks ago.
Even the wasteful trip to Zurich and the composition of its delegation were never made public.
What is accountability? What is servant leadership?
The leadership of the National Sports Commission is accountable to sports stakeholders and Nigerians in general, who reserve the right to demand their removal from office at any time if their performance falls short of public expectations, as public officers.
The pathway to the reform, before a Normalisation Committee is set up, must be made known to stakeholders through a public statement for scrutiny and input.
The National Sports Commission cannot ambush stakeholders and Nigerians with a list of cronies and tainted football administrators as members of a Normalisation Committee who will do its bidding while hiding under the garb of FIFA. That would be totally unacceptable.
Charity begins at home. As part of this reform process, the federating units of the NFF must be given the opportunity to nominate their representatives to the Normalisation Committee.
Stakeholders cannot be kept in limbo. There must be information and access to information concerning the transition process.
The stoic silence from the Dikko-led National Sports Commission is worrisome and a pointer to a hidden agenda.
The reform process is not an exclusive right of the NSC; it is a joint project involving all Nigerian football stakeholders.
Prince Harrison Jalla
Chairman
Advocacy for Nigeria Football Reform Initiative
