Dalung Exempt Self From National Sports Commission Dissolution

Dalung Exempt Self From National Sports Commission Dissolution

By Niyi Busari

Immediate past minister of youth and sports development, Barrister Solomon Dalung has said that he played no role in scrapping of National Sports Commission (NSC), BSNSports.com.ng reports.

NSC was scrapped few months Dalung came into office but he insisted that he was involved in its dissolution. He argued that merging of ministries by the Buhari-led administration led to scrapping of NSC.

Speaking with www.bsnsports.com.ng in Abuja, Dalung said the committee that was set up to look into whether it should be scrapped or not did not brief him about their conclusion during their meetings before final recommendation was made.

When i came in as minister, the APC-led government embarked on merger of ministries and parastatals. The then NSC Chairman and Director General was the same as the minister of Sports. So, when Sports ministry was merged with Youth ministry, a committee was set up and in that committee i was never a member nor part of it," Dalung stated

He admitted that he cannot be totally exonerated himself because the decision was taken when he was in office.

"The Committee then recommended that the national sports commission ceases to exist and then made a recommendation that Director General (DG) should be posted out. Though, that happened under my supervision as minister of sports. Unfortunately, this committee that i was never a member did not brief me on their findings.

"I take responsibility because it happened under my supervision but then i played no role in its scrapping.

"The National Sports Commission is a professional body that handled the administration of sports. Even though with what i inherited form it, it wasn't managed properly because some of the challenges we had throughout the three and half years as minister came through NSC.

He therefore, recommended a lasting solution to challenges facing Nigerian sports

"Having a legal framework which is lacking is the solution. Today we are only governed by Decree 101 which is the only legal document on ground for adminstration of sports.

"So, we need the National Assembly to legislate formerly. The funding of sports should also be included in the legislation. Nigeria can impose taxation on certain foreign owned companies to sponsor selected sports or create a sports trust fund where trustee and other reputable Nigerians are appointed to manage it.

Any country that manages sports from a yearly budget is yet to come to term with sports development.