PFAN Kicks As NFF Inaugurates Players Union Reconciliation Committee

PFAN Kicks As NFF Inaugurates Players Union Reconciliation Committee

Niyi Busari

The Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria (PFAN) has frowned at the inaguration of five-man reconciliation committee by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

NFF in a statement on Monday announced Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shuaibu as the Chairman of the committee. Other members are: Felix Owolabi, Emmanuel Okala, Garba Lawal and Rafiu Yusuf as the Secretary.

"I have confidence in this team to put to rest the discord ad bickering that we have witnessed among players' bodies over the past years. There has been an unhealthy proliferation and this is not on the interest of peace and development of the game." NFF President, Ibrahim Gusau said.

Reacting, the Task Force of PFAN stated categorically that settling of rift between Players 'Union is not the business of NFF insisting that it is an internal issue that should be handled by the body and not the federation.

In a statement signed by the Chairman, Task Force of PFAN, Harrison Jalla stated thus; " The attention of the PFAN task force has been to the above publication. And we state as follows- (1) That on Tuesday the 6th of December 2022 the PFAN task force attended a meeting at the instance of the NFF at the Sunday Dankaro House presided over by Ibrahim Gusau. In attendance the Deputy Governor of Edo State His Excellency Commrade Philip Shuaibu, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, yours sincerely led the PFAN task force team comprising Dahiru Sadi (MFR), Austin Popo, Edema Fuludu (MON) and Chief Rumson Victor Baribote. (2) The meeting is a continuation of an ongoing Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Initiated by the Mohammed Kurfi led States Football Association Chairmen on the disputed September 30th NFF election which is pending in the Court of Appeal Abuja Division.

(3) That the PFAN task force was looking forward to an independent committee to address urgent reforms, imbalance, equity and fair representation in the composition of the NFF Congress, its Board and sub-committees in consonance with decisions reached at the meeting of 6th of December and previous meetings.

(4) That the players Union have no issues for reconciliation, and if even there are such issues it is not within the purview of the NFF to set up a committee to address such issues. Such issues if any are internal matters of the players union as an independent organisation and does not require any external influence. The PFAN task force consider this report a serious mix up and urged the NFF to focus on resolving the issues pending in court as agreed in the December 6th meeting.