Harrison Jalla Demands Immediate Dissolution of NFF Board
Former Nigerian international Harrison Jalla has issued a strong call for the Federal Government to scrap the current board of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), labeling its performance as a catastrophic failure. Jalla, who serves as Chairman of the Advocacy for Nigeria Football Reform Concepts, insists that board members should resign immediately to pave the way for reform.
Criticism of Leadership and Performance
In a message to The Guardian on Tuesday, Jalla expressed deep frustration with the NFF's leadership, highlighting that Nigerian football has endured significant setbacks over the past 12 years. He pointed to the national team's consecutive misses in two World Cups as a clear indicator of systemic failure. "You cannot take our football down the same route as in the last 12 years, during which we missed out on two World Cups back-to-back. Yet, these same individuals have the effrontery to continue on the same path instead of resigning en masse from the NFF board," Jalla stated.
Allegations of Manipulation and Corruption
Jalla condemned what he described as a "charade" at a recent meeting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, questioning the influence of state Football Association chairmen in the federation's affairs. He alleged that these chairmen manipulated proceedings to retain control, allocating votes and enlarging the congress without genuine reform. "The FA chairmen who went to Bayelsa to manipulate their one-member congress, allocate votes, and enlarge the congress while retaining control should know that the game is over," he asserted.
Legal and Judicial Challenges
Referencing a court ruling, Jalla noted that the Court of Appeal had set aside the NFF election of September 30, 2022, arguing that the current board operates in lawlessness. "The Court of Appeal has spoken: the election of September 30, 2022, was set aside. These individuals cannot continue to run Nigerian football in lawlessness. This is a group comfortable with failure, settled in mediocrity, and unconcerned about growth," he said. He warned that if government agencies fail to act, stakeholders might resort to self-help to prevent a breakdown of law and order.
Call for Credible Leadership and Reform
Jalla emphasized the need for credible leadership capable of fostering collaboration between the government and private sector to salvage Nigerian football. He described the sport as a critical national asset that has been mismanaged by incompetent and corrupt officials. "We need leadership that can save Nigerians from the continued disappointment of poor performances by our national teams, driven by incompetent leadership and a corruption-ridden system," he added. He concluded that decisions made in Bayelsa are inconsequential and must be challenged until the Federal Government fully intervenes.
