Dalung speaks on appointment of NFF board members by Buhari

The Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, has described appointment of members into the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) board by government as an oversight.

Dalung, in a statement on Saturday in Abuja, urged football stakeholders to remain calm over some appointments into the NFF board by the Federal Government, adding that corrections were being made at the moment.

President Muhammadu Buhari, had on Friday announced the appointment 209 board chairmen and 1,258 members of government owned agencies and parastatals.

Some appointed were to fill positions at NFF, the National Youth Service Corps, the National Institute for Sports and the Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre, which are all under the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development.

However, Dalung, in the statement released by Nneka Ikem-Anibeze, his Special Assistant on Media, said the NFF members were elected and not appointed.

“The appointments were an oversight which is being sorted out. NFF is governed by statutes and board members are elected by congress and not appointed.

“I am appealing for calm from all stakeholders as it was an administrative oversight. Efforts are tailored towards addressing it very soon.

“I have spoken with the FIFA General Secretary over the situation in Nigeria and conveyed Federal Government’s commitment to upholding the governance structure of the NFF.

“All efforts are on course to liaise with CAF and FIFA on constructive engagement that the situation may likely attract.

“The current board of NFF under Amaju Pinnick has provided leadership but their performance is subject to a congress and not appointment,’’ Dalung stated.