The Federal Government has revoked the recognition of the League Management Company (LMC) as the Nigeria Professional Football League’s (NPFL) operator.
Ismaila Abubakar, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, made the announcement on Friday in Abuja.
He emphasised that the decision was made with immediate effect in light of various unpleasant situations involving football league management, notably the declaration of the National Football League (NFL) as an illegal organisation by a court.
According to Abubakar, the government also deemed the LMC’s and the NFL’s successor-in-title outside the scope of the Nigeria Football Federation’s laws (NFF).
“This decision has become necessary because of the obvious aberration (which is at variance with our football statutes or laws of the land) whereby a private company is gifted the mandate to manage or run the league indefinitely, without the full involvement of and leadership by the clubs, and devoid of any process to monitor the progress and development of the game,” the statement said.
“Sequel to the above, and in order to rescue our domestic football from total collapse, the Board of the LMC and the LMC as a body would no longer be recognised by the Federal Government as operator of the Nigerian Professional Football League.
“To avert further chaos in our domestic football, the NFF is advised to immediately withdraw the licence given to the LMC and, in meantime, set up an Interim Management Committee (IMC), to include the current Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer of the LMC to oversee the affairs of the league until a proper Professional League Board is constituted in accordance with the statues of the NFF.”
