Former international footballer, Harrison Jalla, has called on the Federal Government to dissolve the current board of the Nigeria Football Federation, describing its performance as disappointing and urging members to step down.
Gatekeepers News reports that Jalla criticised the leadership of the federation headed by Ibrahim Gusau, insisting that decisive action should have already been taken against the board.
“By now, a serious government should have dissolved the Ibrahim Gusau-led board and proceeded with its prosecution, including that of the previous board. The NFF electoral process is sub judice, and we shall follow the judicial process to its logical conclusion,” Jalla said.
He argued that Nigerian football has struggled significantly over the past 12 years, citing missed opportunities on the global stage as evidence of systemic failure.
“You cannot take our football down the same route as in the last 12 years, during which we missed out on two World Cups back-to-back. Yet, these same individuals have the effrontery to continue on the same path instead of resigning en masse from the NFF board,” he said in a message to The Guardian on Tuesday.
Jalla, who serves as chairman of the Advocacy for Nigeria Football Reform Concepts, warned that stakeholders would continue to push for reforms in the administration of the sport.
“You have failed Nigerians, and we will not allow this trend to continue. If necessary, we shall apply self-help if the relevant government agencies fail to act to forestall a breakdown of law and order.”
He also criticised what he described as a “charade” during a recent football meeting in Yenagoa, Yenagoa, questioning the influence of state Football Association chairmen in the federation’s affairs.
“How long will the NFF, driven by state FA chairmen, continue to act in their own interest? We thank the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko, for his remarks. Nigerian football is a critical national asset, and those who have held it in the past by hook and crook should understand that that era is over,” he said.
Jalla further alleged that FA chairmen manipulated proceedings during the Bayelsa meeting.
“The FA chairmen who went to Bayelsa to manipulate their one-member congress, allocate votes, and enlarge the congress while retaining control should know that the game is over. As critical stakeholders, we will not allow our football to be run in this old-fashioned way any longer. We shall challenge this in the public domain until the Federal Government fully intervenes.”
He also referenced a ruling by the Court of Appeal concerning the federation’s election.
“The Court of Appeal has spoken: the election of September 30, 2022, was set aside. These individuals cannot continue to run Nigerian football in lawlessness. This is a group comfortable with failure, settled in mediocrity, and unconcerned about growth. None of these cosmetic amendments move us; we shall remain resolute until Nigerian football is salvaged,” Jalla said.
According to him, Nigerian football requires credible leadership capable of strengthening collaboration between the government and the private sector.
“We need leadership that can save Nigerians from the continued disappointment of poor performances by our national teams, driven by incompetent leadership and a corruption-ridden system. The decisions taken in Bayelsa are of no consequence and cannot stand,” he added.
