AFGRAS Urges FG To Investigate Transactional Secrecy Around TMS In Nigeria

  AFGRAS Urges FG To Investigate Transactional Secrecy Around TMS In Nigeria By Niyi Busari A grassroots sports advocate and sports business researcher, Bob Olukoya Esq. in his reaction to a Report published by BSN Sports titled, "https://bsnsports.com.ng/how-grassroots-clubs-are-robbed-throughtransfer-matching-system-in-nigeria/, has urged the Federal Government of Nigeria to set up and supervise an investigative panel on allegation of payment of N150,000 by indivudual, football clubs and academies, into a personal account of Nasiru Jibril, Personal Assistant to Amaju Pinnick, NFF President,  and issues surrounding denial of grassroots football club and academies registering their players from age 12. Bob Olukoya, a doctoral researcher at the Institute of for Sport Business - Loughborough University London frowned at all illegal transaction that formed a burden placed on the shoulders of the innocent, poor parents and coaches of the talented upcoming players. He condemned elimination of grassroots coaches and clubs from getting the share of the 5% payment by European clubs to coaches and football academies that contributed to the discovering, grooming and nurturing of young players. In a commendation letter sent to BSN Sports, Olukoya wrote, " As a grassroot sport advocate, administrator and sport business researcher, this investigative report by Niyi Busari and supported by both the MAcAthur Foundation and The International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) is laudable and very relevant for the development of grassroots sports in Nigeria. It also sign-posts the seriousness with which the international sporting community will view the desire of the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Hon Minister for Youth and Sports Development to turn Nigerian sports from recreational to an economic activity. Thus, this report must not be swept under the proverbial carpet. "In line with this stance, the Advocates for Grassroots Sports (AFGRAS) Foundation based in Nigeria and with representative offices in London and Manchester in the United Kingdom (UK) is committed to using its platform to ensure that the conversation around the subject continues and investigation is conducted domestically by the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) and supervised by the Federal Ministry for Sports and Youth Development as the NFF is still a parastatal under the control and direction of the Ministry. "The Niyi Busari report https://bsnsports.com.ng/how-grassroots-clubs-are-robbed-throughtransfer-matching-system-in-nigeria/is the most comprehensive appraisal to date of how Nigeria operates the International and Domestic Transfer Matching System (FIFA TMS and NFF DTMS). The findings were quite revealing and for sake of brevity and focus, this piece shall focus on transactional secrecy surrounding the operation of the TMS and some recommendations to plug the gaps and present us as being serious in our quest to change the way we manage sports in Nigeria. Transactional Secrecy As stated in the report, world football governing body – FIFA introduced the International Transfer Matching System in 2007 in order to monitor the movement of players, enhance transparency and protect minors when clubs do player transfer business globally. It became mandatory in 2010 for all FIFA members associations (NFF inclusive). The Domestic Transfer Matching System on the other hand is not mandatory but becoming global best practice within national associations. It is therefore worrying to note the allegation that the NFF impose a charge of N150,000.00 (US$300 approximately) before clubs can register their players on the TMS platform. It is even more worrying that such funds were allegedly paid into the personal account of one Nasiru Jibril, Personal Assistant to the President of the NFF – Mr. Amaju Pinnick. It is obvious that this obnoxious fee shall be passed on by clubs to the players and their hapless parents and coaches. More burden on these grassroots football, critical stakeholders. Moreover, the payment into private bank account, if true, goes against all fiduciary norms and standards and must be investigated thoroughly and some pertinent questions answered: how much has accrued over the years to Mr. Jibril’s account? Why have there been a conspiracy of silence by NFF officials, players and clubs, till now? "False or missing data In a move akin to defeating the whole purpose of the TMS, it was revealed that data of young Nigerian players and their grassroots development clubs/academies are not captured from age 12 as allowed by the TMS rules. Rather, the NFF captures player data from age 17. Why? This in my opinion is not only preposterous but also a damaging disservice to the thousands of grassroots academies, parents, players and coaches all over Nigeria, who are being robbed, denied and deprived of the mandatory 5% of transfer/sign-on fees that ought to be shared by grassroot academies and clubs involved in discovering, nurturing, grooming and training players for many years. Imagine what 5% of even US$500,000.00 transfer/sign-on fees will do for a grassroots academy in Sango-Ota? In the event that the information is missing from age 12, everyone involved in the developmental chain losses out. How can this be good for Nigerian football? Why will officials representing the custodians of the game in Nigeria behave so irresponsibly towards its young players? We must urgently do better. "He is of the opinion that if grassroots coaches, academy owners and parents get the share of the 5% that comes from the European club after a player from Nigeria is signed, then Nigeria football development problems is half-solved. Here are his Recommendations "The President of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) must urgently set up a public inquiry headed by non-less than a retired justice of the Supreme Court of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to look into the grave allegations in the Niyi Busari report and the operation of the TMS system in Nigeria. "NFF must immediately provide unfettered ‘viewing only’ access to all records of players and clubs held on the TMS system so that aggrieved players, parents, coaches and clubs can challenge any inaccurate or incomplete entry. "Payment of official funds into private accounts to cease immediately and the public inquiry must look into recovering monies illegally received. "The Hon Minister for Youth and Sports Development – Mr Sunday Dare to mandate that all freedom of information requests made to the Ministry and all parastatal under it be responded to immediately in strict adherence to the law. This is important because the Hon Minister has expressed his personal desire for sports to move from recreational to business. Rules and laws guide business transactions. Investors will feel more comfortable to invest in Nigerian sports if the Ministry is perceived NOT to provide cover for those flouting the laws of the land."