By Danjuma Amodu
The Bureau of the FIFA Council has approved the appointment of a normalisation committee to oversee the affairs of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) pending the conduct of fresh elections into its Executive Committee.
The decision was conveyed on Thursday in a letter signed by FIFA Secretary General, Mattias Grafström, and addressed to Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme, MON.
According to the letter, the committee will be responsible for managing the federation’s affairs and ensuring necessary arrangements are made for the election of a new NFF Executive Committee.
FIFA said the committee shall consist of a suitable number of members to be jointly appointed by the world football governing body and the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
“The normalisation committee shall consist of a suitable number of members, who will be appointed jointly by FIFA and CAF as soon as possible,” the letter stated.
The Bureau said the committee will remain in office until it completes its mandate, with May 31, 2027 set as final deadline.
“The period during which the normalisation committee shall perform its functions shall expire as soon as it has fulfilled all of its tasks, but by no later than 31 May 2027,” the letter read.
FIFA also stipulated that none of the committee members will be eligible to contest any position in the forthcoming NFF elections, a restriction intended to insulate the interim administration from the electoral process it is expected to oversee.
Pending the appointment of the committee, the NFF Secretariat will continue to handle day-to-day administration and management of Nigerian football to allow routine activities to continue during the transition.
Further details on the composition of the committee and timetable for its assignment are expected after consultations between FIFA and CAF.
