Nigeria: Senate Summons Lulu Over NFA's Change of Name

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Leadership (Abuja)

29 August 2008
Posted to the web 29 August 2008

Asuelimen Osasuyi

Senate Committee on Sports and Social Development has summoned the Chairman of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA), Abdullahi Sani Lulu to explain the rationale behind the recent change of name from NFA to Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) without due consultation with relevant authorities.

Chairman of the Committee Senator Heineken Lokpobiri said with the new name adopted by the Sani Lulu-led board, the Senate would find it difficult to accord recognition to the nation's football ruling body.

Lokpobiri said in a statement by the clerk to the Senate Committee on Sports, Suleiman Jamo that the new name, NFF has no reflection in the Nigeria constitution and as such, it would be difficult for the Senate and the federal government to appropriate funds to it.

"The Nigeria Football Association is the only name reflected in the constitution and recognised by the National Assembly. Any other name taking NFA's place without it being reflected in the constitution will not be recognised and the National Assembly will not appropriate funds to it".

Senator Lokpobiri opined that the laws establishing NFA must have to be amended if NFF must be recognised and until that is done, the government and the National Assembly will continue to recognise NFA and not NFF as presently being assumed by those in NFA.

NFA was changed to NFF during the 2008 Annual General Meeting held in Makurdi, where Sani Lulu's designation was also changed from that of a chairman to president.

In the same vein, the Nigeria Football League NFL's name was also changed to Nigeria Premier League.

NFA's change of name, however, may not be unconnected with world trends where a country's football controlling body is known as Federation and the head as President.

The Senate Committee on Sports is summoning Lulu to explain the reason behind the nomenclature change and how the old name would be changed from the constitution.

Leadership Sports gathered that it may take a public hearing to effect the new changes, as every thing being done to reposition sports in the country including football is being done under the name of NFA and not NFF.

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