The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), BudgIT and 136 concerned Nigerians have filed a lawsuit against the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Naija News reports that the suit was filed over the CBN’s failure to withdraw the patently unlawful ‘Circular’ directing all banks and other financial institutions to deduct from customers’ account a ‘cybersecurity levy’.

Recall that the apex bank had last week directed banks to implement a levy of 0.5% (0.005) equivalent to a half percent of all electronic transactions, and to remit the levy to the ‘national cybersecurity fund.’ The CBN relied on the Cybercrime Act 2015 [as amended]. The directive is to be implemented by Monday, May 20, 2024.

In the suit number FHC/L/CS/822/2024 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court, Lagos, the Plaintiffs are asking the court to determine whether the CBN Circular directing financial institutions to deduct from customers’ accounts a cybersecurity levy is unlawful and therefore ultra vires the CBN.

The Plaintiffs are also asking the court to determine “whether the CBN Circular dated 6th May 2024, directing financial institutions to deduct from customers’ accounts a cybersecurity levy and section 44(2)(a) of the Cybercrimes Act are not in breach of sections 14(2), 44(1) and 162(1) of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], and therefore unconstitutional, null, and void.”

The Plaintiffs are asking the court for “a declaration that the CBN Circular dated 6th May 2024 directing all banks and other financial institutions to deduct from customers’ accounts a cybersecurity levy is contrary to the provisions of the Cybercrimes Act and ultra vires the CBN, and therefore is illegal null and void.”

The Plaintiffs are seeking “an order of interim injunction restraining the CBN, its office, agents, privies, assigns, or any other persons acting on its instructions from enforcing the Circular dated 6th May 2024, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed contemporaneously in this suit.”

The suit filed on behalf of the Plaintiffs by their lawyer Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN, read in part: “The CBN Circular is unlawful and an outright violation of the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution and the country’s international obligations.

“Unless the reliefs sought are granted, the CBN will enforce its Circular directing banks to deduct from customers’ accounts a cybersecurity levy. Millions of Nigerians with active bank accounts would suffer irreparable damage from the unlawful deduction of cybersecurity levies from their accounts.

“The provisions of the Cybercrimes Act on payment of cybersecurity levy strictly apply only to businesses listed in the Second Schedule to the Act. These provisions make no reference to bank customers, contrary to the CBN Circular to all banks and other financial institutions.

“The Nigerian government has a legal responsibility to ensure the security and welfare of the people, as provided for under section 14(2)(b) of the Nigerian Constitution and human rights treaties to which Nigeria is a state party.

“The CBN Circular is also a blatant violation of Nigerians’ human rights including the right to property guaranteed under section 44 of the Nigerian Constitution and article 14 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights to which Nigeria is a state party.

“We urge the Honourable to grant the reliefs sought in the public interest and the interest of justice as well as to prevent arbitrariness and ensure the rule of law in the country.

“Any deduction of cybersecurity levy from Nigerians’ accounts would be contrary to the provisions of section 44(2)(a) of the Cybercrimes Act 2015 as amended by the Cybercrimes Prohibition, Prevention etc) (Amendment) Act 2024 and ultra vires the CBN, and therefore illegal, null and void.

“Section 162 (1) of the Nigerian Constitution provides that all revenues collected by or on behalf of the Government of the Federation are mandatorily required to be paid into the Federation Account save the revenue excepted by the provisions of the section.

“The National Cybersecurity Fund established by section 44(1) of the Cybercrimes Act 2015 [as amended] into which it is required to be paid the levy of 0.5% chargeable on all electronic transactions instead of the Federation Account is unconstitutional, null, and void.

“The CBN Circular is a breach and misinterpretation of Sections 44(2)(a) and 58 of the Cybercrimes Act [as amended], in that it purports to incorporate customers of the bank (neither defined by the Act nor designated by the CBN as financial institutions) as those to pay the cybersecurity levy.

“The Plaintiffs are customers of commercial banks in Nigeria with accounts domiciled with many commercial banks in Nigeria. The CBN is the statutory agency charged with the overall control and administration of the monetary and financial sector policies of the Federal Government.

“The Plaintiffs are included in the statistics of Nigerians with active bank accounts as the Plaintiffs are owners of accounts in different Banks and other financial institutions.

“As of 30 April 2024, commercial banks in Nigeria already charge exorbitant fees for electronic transactions, including Electronic Transfer Charges at N53.75 on any amount above N10,000, Stamp Duty of N50 on every transaction and Account Maintenance Charge deducted per month.”

Naija News understands that no date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.

Paul Ibe, the spokesperson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubarkar, has accused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, of orchestrating Peter Obi’s move from PDP to the Labour Party (LP).

Naija News recalls that Peter Obi was the vice presidential candidate of the PDP in the 2019 presidential election but dumped the party for the LP ahead of the 2023 presidential election.

The former Governor of Anambra State later became a reckoning force in the last general election, securing over six million votes.

Since the PDP and Labour Party lost to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 election, the leading opposition has yet to resolve its internal crisis.

In an interview with Nigerian journalist, Seun Okinbaloye, on the Mic On podcast, Paul Ibe disclosed that Atiku was ready to zone the PDP presidential ticket to the Southeast.

However, Wike frustrated the move, insisting that it must be zoned to the Southern region in general because of his personal interest, which forced Peter Obi to leave the party.

He said: “Wike had promoted the zoning of the presidency to the south. Atiku Abubakar had said that he was prepared to get himself off the ticket if the party zoned the ticket to the Southeast.

“Wike frustrated that effort because he believed that if it was zoned to the south, not the southeast, he would be in the best position to be able to get the ticket.”

The immediate past Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike has shared some fresh details about the political crisis rocking the state.

Wike, who is the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), submitted that he made a mistake in supporting Governor Siminalayi Fubara to emerge as his successor.

Speaking on Saturday at the grand civic reception held at Ogu-Bolo in honour of Chief George Thompson Sekibo, Wike begged for God’s forgiveness as well as the people’s forgiveness for making an error in judgment.

Speaking further, the FCT Minister vowed to correct his mistake at the right time.

Wike said: ”I want to say this clearly, in life we have made a mistake. I have made a mistake. I own it up and I say God forgive me. I have said all of you forgive me. But we will correct it at the appropriate time. I am a human, I am bound to make a mistake. So forgive me for making a wrong judgement. So nobody should kill.”

Speaking further on the current political crisis rocking Rivers State, Wike called out the camp of Governor Fubara, saying no injunctions obtained at 2am or 4am would stop the law and due process from taking its course in the state.

“If they like they can go to anybody by 2am or 4am to get injunction. The law will take its course. We must follow due process,” Wike said.

The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has said he is ready to undergo a probe over the controversy surrounding the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project.

He said there was nothing to hide about the project, stating that due process was followed and the necessary approvals and documentation were obtained for the project to commence.

Recall that the House of Representatives on Thursday resolved to probe the N15 trillion project and said it would set up an ad hoc committee to investigate the project and submit a report within four weeks.

The House’s resolution followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved during plenary by Austin Achado, the member representing Gwer East/Gwer West Federal Constituency of Benue State.

In a chat with The Punch, the minister said he is ready to face the House of Representatives committee set up to probe the project. Umahi added that he planned to ensure the exercise was televised live for all Nigerians to see.

The former Governor of Ebonyi State also said that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s claim that the loan obtained to complete the project did not follow due process was untrue.

Umahi, however, added that the matter was before the National Assembly, noting that he would not want to comment on it.

He said, “I am ready to face the National Assembly to defend the project. I will not want to say anything now until I meet with the senators and House of Reps members. It will be live, so you will also hear it. It will be live so that Nigerians will see it.”

Naija News reports that the highway project, which is a 700-kilometre turnpike infrastructure, has attracted commendation and condemnation since the Bola Tinubu administration approved it in February.

The 10-lane coastal road was designed to connect Lagos to Cross River, passing through Ogun, Ondo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom states before culminating in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.

Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar has written all the foreign missions in the country to comply with the directive of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to charge payment for visa and consular services in naira instead of dollar.

Tuggar has already met with a few envoys who sought more clarifications on the EFCC’s advisory.

It was learnt that the EFCC advisory against dollar-denominated service was necessitated in part after some embassies adopted N1,800-N1,900 exchange rates to a dollar.

An embassy was found to have set up an account unit where visa applicants were paying cash in dollar for services outside the conventional banking system.

Some embassies are understood to have started implementing the EFCC’s advisory on naira policy for consular services.

It was gathered that the EFCC has entered into an understanding with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for prompt remittance of the funds generated by the embassies to their home countries at official rate.

In an April 5, 2024 advisory to the Foreign Affairs Minister, the EFCC Executive Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, had asked government to stop foreign missions in Nigeria from charging visa and other consular services in foreign denominations.

He also advised all embassies to adopt Nigeria’s regulatory regime in fixing the exchange rate of the cost of their services.

He said the commission has observed the violation of Section 20(1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007 which makes currencies issued by the apex bank the only legal tender in Nigeria.

A top source told newwmen that the Minister of Foreign Affairs asked all foreign missions to implement the EFCC advisory.

The source said: “The Federal Government has adopted the advisory of the EFCC which is backed by the CBN Act. In line with this, the Minister, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, has formally written all embassies to charge and accept payment for visa and consular services in naira.

“In fact, the Ambassador of one of the missions collecting dollars for consular services demanded an audience with the Minister of Foreign Affairs for clarifications on the new policy. Tuggar, who met with the affected envoy, said there is no going back on the naira policy.

“But the EFCC has also reached an understanding with the CBN for the prompt remittance of all consular fees collected at the official exchange rate to the embassies or countries. The Federal Government will not default in remitting funds.”

It was gathered that the EFCC issued the advisory following discovery that some embassies had adopted N1,800 to N1,900 exchange rates for applicants for visa and consular services.

“Some embassies went beyond official and parallel market rates in fixing exchange rate for consular services. They were charging as high as N1,800 to N1,900,” one source said.

“A foreign mission was even collecting dollars in cash from visa applicants. The practice was outside the banking system.

“From feedback, some of the embassies are already charging for consular services, including visa, in naira. We will not relent in ensuring full compliance by all missions.

“There is a desk monitoring compliance with the naira-for-visa policy. Any infraction will be reported to the Federal Government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”

The advisory, signed by the EFCC Executive Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, reads in part: “…I wish to notify you about the commission’s observation, with dismay, regarding the unhealthy practice by some foreign Missions to invoice consular services to Nigerians and other foreign nationals in the country in United States Dollar ($).

“This practice is an aberration and unlawful as it conflicts ‘with extant laws and financial regulations in Nigeria. Section 20(1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007 makes currencies issued by the apex bank the only legal tender in Nigeria.

“It states that ‘the currency notes issued by the Bank shall be the legal tender in Nigeria on their face value for the payment of any amount’.

“This presupposes that any transaction in currencies other than the naira anywhere in Nigeria contravenes the law and is therefore illegal.”

The commission added: “The refusal by some Missions to accept the Naira for consular service in Nigeria and also comply with foreign exchange regulatory regime in fixing the exchange of the cost of their services is not only illegal but represents an affront on the country’s sovereignty symbolised by the national currency. It undermines Nigeria’s monetary policy and aspiration for sustainable economic development.

“This trend can no longer be tolerated, especially in a volatile economic environment where the country’s macroeconomic policies are constantly under attack by all manner of state and non-state actors.

“In the light of the above, you may wish to convey the commission’s displeasure to all Missions in Nigeria and restate Nigeria’s desire for their operations not to conflict with extant laws and regulations in the country.

“Please accept, as always, the assurances of my highest consideration and respect.”

Attend to enquiries on money laundering, others within 24 hours, EFCC boss tasks bankers

The EFCC boss has also urged bankers to respond to the commission’s enquiries within 24 hours to aid its investigations.

“I don’t want to be charging banks alongside suspected criminals, because doing so can wreak havoc on the economy. It will even discourage investors from coming to the country,” Olukoyede said during a roundtable with compliance officers of banks in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

He added: “Our intention is to use the anti-corruption fight to bolster the economy. So, we must work together to save this country.”

Represented by acting Zonal Director, Ilorin Command Harry Erin, Pastor Olukoyede said: “We need to find a common ground to work together. You have a responsibility to fight corruption.”

The EFCC chair also expressed concerns over the use of fintech (private banking) by criminals to perpetuate crimes.

The anti-graft czar charged bankers to take the issue of “Know Your Customer” (KYC) and “Know Your Customer’s Business” (KYCB) seriously, as the two requirements would help to keep fraudulent customers on the radar.

Edison Ehie, Chief of Staff to Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara, has explained the reason behind the political crisis in the State.

According to Ehie, the issue in Rivers State started when a small group of political leaders wanted sole authority over the State’s resources.

He said this during a thanksgiving service on Saturday for the Supreme Court victory of the governor in Ahoada East Local Government Area of the state.

“The problem we have in the state is that 11 persons said they will control the resources of Rivers State. These 11 persons now called 20 others to allocate resources to themselves,” he said.

The jubilant thanksgiving, held at Western County High School Ahoada, began with a choir performance followed by a sermon, with the preacher admonishing Governor Fubara to remain dedicated to serving the people.

Ehie, spoke on behalf of Gov Fubara, warning the Governor should not be underestimated because of his age.

He said: “We are going to teach them a lesson of political arithmetic. What that small boy will do to you you’ll know that khaki no be leather.”

The Army Headquarters has announced investigation into a viral footage showing soldiers protesting at the 8 Division Garrison detention facility in Sokoto.

The footage, circulating on social media, depicts personnel held in custody expressing grievances.

In a statement signed Saturday by Onyema Nwachukwu, Major General Director Army Public Relations, the Army regretted the incident adding that it would not condone the soldiers’ behaviour, which constitutes mutiny and misconduct.

According to the report, the Chief of Army Staff has ordered a probe to determine if the incident is isolated or widespread in similar facilities.

“Undoubtedly, the Sokoto barracks detention facility incident is quite unfortunate and an embarrassment to the sound administration efforts of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), to say the least, and in line with his leadership style, the COAS has instituted an appropriate investigation into the incident to determine whether it is an isolated or widespread situation in similar detention facilities.

“While the service regrets and has gleaned some lessons from the incident, it will however not condone the manner the inmates expressed their purported grievance. Mutiny and conduct prejudicial to service order are grievous misconducts, and this very incident epitomises such.

“As such, as Army, on the one side, goes ahead to implement the COAS directive to look into the state of all NA detention facilities, as detainees’ lives also matter, the Service shall not shy away from appropriately sanctioning the soldiers involved in the unruly behaviour in its Sokoto detention facility for failing to exhaust all available options to channel their complaints to the appropriate authorities and if it was discovered they did and nothing was done, necessary administrative actions will be taken against anyone found to have failed to discharge his/her duties effectively.

“While the Service is mindful of its subjective oversight engagements by statutory bodies, it remains primarily a responsible, self-regulating professional body. As such, the Service remains committed to ensuring that everyone, even those found guilty of aiding terrorists, kidnappers, and bandits, and are awaiting confirmation of their sentencing, as it has been discovered in the Sokoto case is accorded a relatively decent life until their judgment is confirmed and executed. This commitment underscores the NA’s dedication to upholding professional standards and maintaining a just and fair system.

“The NA appreciates all Nigerians for their concern and support as well as pledge to remain focused on its drive to defeating security challenges facing the nation in conjunction with sister services and other security agencies,” the statement added.

…urges Tinubu to call Wike to order

The former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, has said the Rivers State Governor Similaye Fubura, was being haunded by his political opponents for daring to prevent the looting of the state.

He explained that the political crisis in the state was orchestrated by those who demand unfettered access to the finances of the state a demand the governor has refused to accept.

Secondus who spoke in Abuja, on Saturday, also accused the immediate past Governor of the state and now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, of being the brain behind Fubura’s political troubles.

He explained that Wike’s conduct, utterances and unrelenting fued with the governor, has cast the state in bad light.

Secondus said, “Wike has been Governor for eight years and is now Minister of the FCT. As Minister, what, has he (Wike) attracted in terms of Federal projects to our dear State since he assumed office? Perhaps misery, grief, and anguish. As Governor he had supervised the exit of investors from the state due to his draconian policies.

“He had on an occasion mentioned that he is capable of causing crisis and he is not far from the truth, as he is causing an unfathomable crisis in Rivers State.

“Mrs Patience Jonathan and I worked for his emergence as governor, have we ever breathed down his neck? Instead what we get is disrespect and insults.

“ I can attest to Dr. Odili’s performance as Governor being the State PDP chairman then. I hasten to say without any fear of contradiction that he is the best governor of Rivers State in this dispensation.

“Wike claims that our revered Dr. Odili made him but in his characteristic manner, he publicly ridiculed the Odili’s without any justification. He owes them an unreserved apology and he should do so publicly.

“These media attacks against the political leaders of Rivers State are unwarranted and diversionary.

“For the records you should account for the three hundred million dollars($300m) you collected from the NNPC for the Ogoni Oil well and the cash refund made by the Saipem oil and gas company and subsequently account for your eight-year tenure of over N4Trillion realized, mismanaged and squandered. Rather than trying to cover your inadequacies through media attacks.”

These attacks, he stressed, might dovetail into a national crisis if not properly checked.

While appealing to President Bola Tinubu to reign in the FCT minister, Secondus added, “I call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to prevail on the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike to stop overheating the Rivers State political atmosphere and allow Fubara to work. Whatever Wike thinks he is It must be stressed that Rivers people made him.”

South African football club Chippa United has placed a significant R30 million (about ₦2.3 billion in Nigerian currency) price tag on Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali.

Naija News reports that Nwabali unexpectedly became a standout player for the Super Eagles during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament in Ivory Coast.

Nwabali, who made his tournament debut at the continental event, impressed everyone with his confident performance in goal, achieving four clean sheets in seven matches.

The 27-year-old player’s exceptional performance played a vital role in Nigeria’s journey to the final, where they narrowly lost to the host nation. Nwabali’s outstanding display caught the attention of various clubs worldwide.

Clubs such as Queens Park Rangers in England’s Championship, Royale Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgium, Kaizer Chiefs in South Africa, and Al-Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia have all shown interest in acquiring the services of the Nigerian national team player.

According to Goal.com, the South African DStv Premiership are demanding the sum of 30 million rands for Nwabali, a price tag that has reportedly put off Kaizer Chiefs.

Nwabali’s potential move abroad seems likely, given that other clubs consider the asking price reasonable. His contract with Chippa United expires in the summer of 2026.

The real question now is whether the interested clubs are prepared to meet the substantial price set by the South African club. After his standout performance at the AFCON, the demand for the former Katsina United goalkeeper has significantly increased, making him a valuable player in the upcoming transfer window.

Nigeria’s sports development suffered a major derailment between 2004 and 2006.

That situation sustains till now, unfortunately.

This sad state of affairs was created inadvertently by government (the Ministry of Sports) in the process of trying to stop a ‘rebel’ group in Nigerian football that wanted to perpetuate itself in office, and halt government’s seeming control of football leadership in the country.

The product of that ‘confrontation’ created a ‘virus’ that has infected all other sports federations and even the architecture of sports administration in the country.

In short, the struggle for control of the leadership of the Nigeria Football Association during the elections of 2004/2006 is the root cause of the ineffectiveness of essential interventions by the sports ministry since then to stimulate development.

Needless to go into the minute details of that event here even though a brief summary will provide some background to my position.

In 2004 to 2006, the Ministry of Sports was tied in knots. Its power was rendered impotent by Ibrahim Galadima who was drawing power from the Independence clause in the then constitution of the NFA to outlaw any external interference (including by the NFA’s primary funder, the government) in its affairs as a means to reinstating himself as Chairman. With FIFA’s threat dangled over Nigeria’s head should the government interfere, Galadima temporarily had his way, reinstalled himself, but drew government’s ire in the process. That confrontation cost Nigeria a World Cup ticket, and tied down Nigerian football from any major development for the next two years.

No one fights government and wins. Galadima was not going to be an exception.

In order to regain some control, the sports ministry, under the guidance of the most powerful administrator in Nigeria’s sports history at the time, Dr. Amos Adamu, planned and executed a coup d’état. His ‘people’ infiltrated the NFA, got some ‘rebel’ members to force a re-visit of the constitution of the Association, introduced some new strategic political rules, and, aided by Nigeria’s loss of a World Cup qualification with Angola from a misjudgement by Galadima, successfully conducted new elections and removed Galadima.

That story will be properly told one day by anyone of Fanny Amun, Amanze Uchegbulam, Abba Yola, Sani Lulu, and so on, all principal actors in that government action.

Unfortunately, although government achieved its objective, it came with a high cost, a massive amendment to the correct structures and constitution of the NFA. With that ‘victory’, government inadvertently created a new knot that the even the government itself has been able to untie since then. The knot became cancerous, spreading to the entire sports apparatus, including the Nigerian Olympic Committee, that prides itself as fully independent of government. That’s the product of applying a purely political pill to cure a technical problem in Nigerian sports.

Since then, from election to election in several sports associations now, the civil courts are being brought into the picture to untie the resultant political knots without much success.

So, returning to the proper order of sports administration since then has become impossible. The strategic ‘illegality’ introduced to oust Galadima has become the norm. Its creator, the federal government, through successive Ministers, has been grappling without success to understand why the Ministry finds it difficult to align its vision with those of sports associations that have become recalcitrant and seemingly untouchable. With the exit of several old staff in the ministry from service the situation gets worse with time.

Elections into the Federation boards have become convoluted, complicated, expensive, political campaigns (even with rallies) and movement of election venues on the basis of political strength, State government funding of particular interests, etc. ‘Wrong’ has now become ‘Right’, with unending crisis. Sports are the worse for it.

A body of ‘experts’ set up under the guidance of Amos Adamu, tampered with and re-wrote a new constitution for the Nigerian Football Association in order to achieve the new numbers of delegates that can vote and oust Galadima. The body took a new political route of using the State Sports Associations to carry out the hatchet job.

The State associations were actually non-registered administrative bodies created by States using the National Federation guidelines to conduct football activities at State level. At best, they attended the annual General Assembly meetings of the Nigeria Football Association along with other members, affiliates, stakeholders and even an invited public.

As a group of State associations, they had only one vote in the election of the Chairman of the NFA, like every other member.

In 2006, the State football associations were suddenly empowered to the status of full, independent individual membership of the National Association without any justification other than the optics of being like an arm of the National Association. This move made each of the State associations a full member of the NFA, a member of the General Assembly and a member of the electoral body!

Think of it this way. Each State Coaches Association to become a full member of the NFA. Or the State associations of the Referees.

With their new number in the membership of the National Association increased from one (or two, when Secretaries were even admitted into it in another political dispensation) to 37, or 74 at a time, ordinary administrative affiliates, without any business at the national level, became full individual members of the national Federation. They now determined who became the Chairman. They took over the reign of governance and sports development.

They simply used their new numbers to vote out Galadima, and terminated his ambition as well as his regime.

That’s how administrative affiliate bodies became full, individual members of the NFA.

Meanwhile, that whole process of making State Football Associations to become full members was wrong and illegal.

The activities of State sports associations do not go beyond the States. Expanding their status, place and roles as direct, full members of the National Federations was and continues to be the Achilles heel of sports development in Nigeria. It was a grave mistake in the story of sports administration in the country.

Simply put, every national sports association (federation) is made up of the following full and independent members (existing, or when they eventually exist):

1. One rep. of each of the Leagues (any number of them that are registered for competitions)
2. Rep. of the national body of Coaches
3. Rep. of the national body of Referees
4. Rep. of the national body of Schools
5. Rep. of NAPHER
6. Rep. of the national body of Football Academies (when they are registered)

Other admissible stakeholders and affiliates are:

A representative of the Ministry of Sports, a representative of the national body of Players, a representative of the national body of State Sports Associations (called Chairman of Chairmen), and one representative of any other stakeholders registered by the federation or recognised.

It is these representatives, all elected by their different constituencies, that shall form the board of the national sports federations and shall from amongst themselves elect a Chairman or President without the shenanigans of political manipulations and brazen illegalities.

The process of electing a Chairman or President will become equitable, inexpensive, without any room for open political manipulations. The constitution must once again be amended to restore order and legality, removing what obviously was constructed to serve a special purpose in 2004 in Port Harcourt. It has served that purpose and must now be discarded.

The Minister must be strategic in approaching this subject matter.

Without addressing and solving it, his dreams of advancing the cause of sports will be hinged not on his plans but on the whims of State Sports association chairman that control the levers outside the proper national federations with which his ministry interacts.

My postulation, of course, requires interrogation and careful examination by the Minister for verification of the claims that I make. The Minister should set up a committee to do so immediately, with some time still available before new elections into boards. This way he will avoid the endless cycle of conflicts, and restore justice, equity and order to sports administration and development in Nigeria.

I know I am stirring the hornet’s nest by this piece, but truth must be told, even if nothing will be done!