๐ฃ๐๐ฅ๐ง ๐ฎ ๐ข๐ ๐ฏ โ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐?
๐Y PAUL LUCKY OKOKU
Imagine appointing a committee to examine the management of an institution.
Among the proposed members are people who previously held important positions in that same institution.
Some may have performed excellently. Others may have unfinished responsibilities or decisions requiring explanation.
Should previous service automatically disqualify them?
Certainly not.
But should their previous records be examined before granting them another position of authority?
Absolutely.
That is the principle Nigerian football must apply as ๐ ๐๐ ๐ and ๐๐๐ prepare the ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ฌ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐๐ approved on ๐๐๐ญ๐จ๐๐๐ซ ๐๐, ๐๐๐๐.
The purpose is not to humiliate former administrators or prosecute personal disagreements.
It is to ensure that those assigned to correct institutional weaknesses have the integrity, independence and competence to perform that responsibility.
๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ก ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ญ ๐ซ๐๐ช๐ฎ๐ข๐ซ๐๐ฌ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ง ๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ก ๐ฅ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ ๐จ๐ ๐ง๐๐ฆ๐๐ฌ.
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
Nigeriaโs football administration has included officials who served across successive leadership periods, sometimes in different capacities.
Continuity can preserve valuable experience and institutional knowledge.
It can also create conflicts if individuals are invited to review decisions in which they previously participated.
That is why experience alone cannot be the qualification.
For anyone previously associated with the ๐๐ ๐ , the relevant questions are straightforward.
What positions did the individual occupy? What authority did those positions carry? Which projects or decisions did the person supervise? What measurable achievements resulted? Were there documented audit findings, regulatory concerns or unresolved governance issues relating to those responsibilities?
The answers must come from records rather than rumours.
An official should not be blamed automatically for every problem that occurred during an administration. Responsibility must be connected to evidence.
But neither should holding office in the past confer an unquestioned entitlement to another appointment.
๐ ๐ญ๐ข๐ญ๐ฅ๐ ๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐ฐ๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐จ๐ง ๐ฌ๐๐ซ๐ฏ๐๐.
๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐ฐ๐ฌ ๐ก๐จ๐ฐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ฌ๐๐ซ๐ฏ๐ข๐๐ ๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ฏ๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ญ๐๐.
๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐
This is not a new standard being proposed solely for Nigeria.
๐ ๐๐ ๐โs governance framework requires candidates for ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ฌ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐๐๐ฌ to pass eligibility checks conducted by the ๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ฏ๐ข๐๐ฐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐๐.
Its published guidance also recognizes that the selection process should consider competence, accountability and independence.
There is precedent for this requirement in Africa.
When ๐ ๐๐ ๐ announced ๐๐ก๐๐ง๐โs ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ฌ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐๐ in ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐๐๐, it expressly required eligibility checks for members.
When it announced the committee for ๐๐จฬ๐ญ๐ ๐โ๐๐ฏ๐จ๐ข๐ซ๐ in ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ซ ๐๐๐๐, it applied the same principle.
Nigeria should expect the same rigorous standard.
Beyond completing the formal checks, ๐ ๐๐ ๐ and ๐๐๐ should explain the professional criteria used to identify prospective members and provide appropriate confirmation that the required screening has been completed.
๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐?
The ๐๐๐จ๐ง๐จ๐ฆ๐ข๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ ๐ข๐ง๐๐ง๐๐ข๐๐ฅ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ฆ๐๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง (๐๐ ๐๐) and ๐๐ง๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ง๐๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ซ๐ฎ๐ฉ๐ญ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐๐๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ง๐๐๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง (๐๐๐๐) have lawful responsibilities concerning suspected corruption and related offences.
Where a prospective appointee has a documented history involving either agency, a credible integrity review should establish the relevant facts, legal status and outcome.
But the terminology must be precise.
An invitation for questioning is not a criminal conviction.
An investigation is not proof of misconduct.
A criminal charge is an allegation to be determined by a court.
An acquittal must not be portrayed as a conviction, and a documented conviction must not be concealed.
Any investigation that remains unresolved should be assessed fairly, considering its relevance, available evidence and the individualโs rights.
The same standard should apply to documented sporting disciplinary proceedings, procurement concerns, financial conflicts and professional misconduct findings.
Investigative records are not automatically public. ๐ ๐๐ ๐ and ๐๐๐ should obtain any protected information only through lawful procedures and appropriate authorities.
The objective is verified integrity screening, not trial by newspaper headline.
๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
Integrity screening establishes whether someone meets the applicable eligibility requirements. Independence determines whether that individual can perform particular responsibilities without a conflict of interest.
The two must never be confused.
Anyone who previously participated in NFF financial decisions, electoral arrangements, procurement approvals or administrative actions subsequently placed under review should not investigate, audit or adjudicate those same matters.
Such individuals may possess relevant information and should cooperate with independent investigators. But they should not control the inquiry, select its findings or determine its conclusions.
๐๐จ ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ญ๐ก ๐ ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ญ ๐จ๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฏ๐ข๐๐ฐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ง ๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ก๐จ๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ซ๐๐ฏ๐ข๐๐ฐ.
Where a conflict is limited, mandatory recusal and independent oversight may provide appropriate safeguards. Where previous involvement compromises the committeeโs central responsibilities, the individual should not be appointed to that assignment.
This is not a presumption of wrongdoing. It is a necessary protection against institutional self-review.
๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ฌ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐ง๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ข๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ข๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐จ๐ฌ๐ ๐ฐ๐ก๐จ ๐ก๐๐ฅ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐ก๐๐ฉ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐ฎ๐ง๐๐๐ซ ๐ฌ๐๐ซ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ฒ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฌ๐จ ๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐๐ ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฆ.
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
FIFA and CAF should disclose not only the qualifications and eligibility-screening status of committee members but also the conflict-of-interest and recusal safeguards that will prevent former officials from reviewing decisions in which they participated.
They should explain their selection criteria, confirm completion of eligibility screening and identify the safeguards protecting the committeeโs independence.
All prospective members must meet the applicable standards, including those with no previous ๐๐ ๐ appointment.
The goal is not to ban familiar faces or reserve positions for a preferred group.
It is to make public service answerable to evidence.
Competent former officials should have their genuine contributions recognized. Serious adverse findings should receive appropriate consideration. Unsupported allegations should not be weaponized.
Nigerian football needs professionals who can reform the system without being beholden to its competing interests.
๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
The ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ฌ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐๐โs responsibility is too important to become another contest over personalities.
It must examine the institutional problems, support lawful reforms and help restore confidence in football governance.
That demands integrity from the people entrusted with the assignment.
๐ ๐๐ ๐ and ๐๐๐ should publish the appointment criteria, provide relevant information about those selected and confirm that every member has passed the required eligibility checks.
๐๐จ ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ฑ๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐๐ ๐ฌ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ก๐๐ฏ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ซ๐ฏ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐จ๐ซ๐. ๐๐จ ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ฑ๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ญ๐๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐ฌ๐๐ซ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ฒ ๐๐๐๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฒ ๐ก๐๐ฏ๐.
That is how a reform process begins to earn trust.
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐.
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐-๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐.
We are all in this together.
Next: ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฏ examines eleven institutional reforms and the responsibilities that must be defined before ๐๐๐ฒ ๐๐, ๐๐๐๐.
๐๐๐ฎ๐ฅ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ค๐ฒ ๐๐ค๐จ๐ค๐ฎ
๐
๐๐
๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ | Former Nigeria Flying Eagles Vice-Captain | Former Super Eagles International | ๐๐
๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฏ๐๐ซ ๐๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ | Football Historian | Football Analyst | Investigative Football Writer | Journalist-at-Large | Founder & CEO, Greater Tomorrow Childrenโs Fund (GTCF).
๐๐๐๐๐๐โ๐ ๐๐๐๐
This article concerns institutional integrity and fair eligibility screening. It does not allege that any identifiable former or prospective ๐๐ ๐ official committed an offence. References to ๐๐ ๐๐, ๐๐๐๐ and disciplinary proceedings describe matters that may warrant lawful verification, not findings of individual wrongdoing.
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
Sources: ๐ ๐๐ ๐, Bureau of the Council Takes Key Decisions, ๐๐๐ญ๐จ๐๐๐ซ ๐๐, ๐๐๐๐; ๐ ๐๐ ๐ Governance Regulations, provisions on eligibility checks for ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ฌ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐๐๐ฌ; ๐ ๐๐ ๐, Appointment of a Normalisation Committee in ๐๐ก๐๐ง๐, ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐, ๐๐๐๐; ๐ ๐๐ ๐, Bureau of the FIFA Council Passes Decisions Concerning ๐๐จฬ๐ญ๐ ๐โ๐๐ฏ๐จ๐ข๐ซ๐ and Pakistan, ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ซ ๐๐๐๐.
The recommendations for public disclosures and historical reviews are independent governance proposals.
๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ฌ๐ ๐๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐ซ๐๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฌ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ฌ๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ฐ๐ ๐๐๐ง ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ซ๐ง, ๐๐ฌ๐ค ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ซ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ ๐ช๐ฎ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ก๐๐ฅ๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ญ๐๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ง ๐๐จ๐จ๐ญ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ.