AJIBADE OLUSESAN reports that there is still an ongoing effort to keep Dr. Muhammed Sanusi as the Secretary-General of the Nigeria Football Federation beyond December. However, stakeholders are continuing to resist this and are advocating for the appointment of a new person with fresh ideas and innovations.
The Secretary General of a football federation is the administrative backbone of the institution. He holds the most senior executive position and is responsible for overseeing all operations, including developing strategies, managing finances and staff, and building stakeholder relationships. He reports to the president, and in terms of overall performance, he is even seen to be more influential than his boss. This is why stakeholders in Nigerian football are interested in the occupier of that position in the Nigeria Football Federation because the success and otherwise of the game is largely hinged upon his capacity and competence. Nigeria has seen competent, flamboyant and even controversial Secretary-Generals in the past. Late Patrick Okpomo, Effiom Okon, Sani Toro, Dr Tijani Yusuf, Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi, Bolaji Ojooba, Musa Ahmadu among others held sway with varying degrees of success. However, for more than a decade, Dr Muhammadu Sanusi has occupied this crucial role but the plot to elongate his tenure beyond December this year when his current term would elapse is damagingly heating the Nigerian football space.
The NFF held its Annual General Assembly Congress last Friday and the purported renewal of Sanusi’s mandate dominated the buildup after it was alleged that some members of the board were planning to use the Assembly to endorse his continued stay in office beyond December. However, the plot was foiled after the Minister of Sports, John Enoh, insisted that it was not the statutory responsibility of the Assembly to decide the employment of a Secretary-General. “The next issue that is likely to generate controversy within sports and football is the appointment of the NFF secretary general,” he said while delivering his speech as the Special Guest at the Assembly. “Most people tend to see this issue as having two sides, but we shouldn’t necessarily view it that way. In my understanding, this isn’t the responsibility of the annual general assembly; it remains the responsibility of the NFF executive board, acting on the advice of the president. I hope that we can’t make decisions without considering the views and comments of the Nigerian people. What are their opinions? What are the things that, if not handled properly, could divide us?” That speech from the Minister effectively put paid to the plan earlier hatched to get the Assembly to rubber stamp the decision to extend Sanusi’s contract. The minister’s speech came after the immediate past President of the NFF, Amaju Pinnick who appointed Sanusi about 10 years ago had charged the Assembly to consider a proposal to elongate the Kebbi State-born administrator.
Law and regulations against move
Dr. Sanusi’s extended tenure in office has raised concerns about compliance with both NFF statutes and Nigeria’s public service regulations. The NFF’s statutes clearly outline the qualifications and procedures for appointing a Secretary-General, as well as the requirement for these appointments to adhere to established legal frameworks. More so, Nigeria’s Federal Government Public Service Rule on Contract Appointments sets specific limits on the duration of such appointments, which Sanusi’s tenure has already exceeded by several years. Disregarding these rules not only establishes a risky precedent but also undermines the credibility of the NFF. Some stakeholders believe that the Federation cannot expect to enforce rules and regulations in the sport while blatantly disregarding its own internal governance principles. Football activist and ex-international, Harrison Jalla, said Sanusi shouldn’t have emerged as the CEO of the football house at the time he did if seniority was considered and believes it is unwise to extend his stay. “From the onset, if the order of seniority had been followed in the appointment of the General Secretary, Dr. Christian Ikpeme, not Sanusi, would have taken the position. As Deputy to Musa Amadu, Dr. Ikpeme was the General Secretary in waiting,” he said.
Ethnic imbalance and federal character
One of the most politically sensitive issues surrounding Dr. Sanusi’s continued tenure is the perceived ethnic imbalance in the leadership of the NFF. Both Dr. Sanusi and the current NFF President, Ibrahim Gusau, hail from the same Northwest, which goes against the spirit of federal character—a principle deeply ingrained in Nigeria’s political culture to ensure fair representation across its various ethnic and regional groups. The notion of ethnic balancing has historically been an unspoken rule in Nigerian sports administration, as it is vital for maintaining unity in a multi-ethnic and multi-religious country. Overlooking this principle by retaining two of the most powerful figures in Nigerian football from the same geopolitical zone risks further polarizing stakeholders and fans, leading to perceptions of favouritism and exclusion. But Jalla said competence and credibility should supersede ethnic considerations, adding that ” I disagree with the notion that Dr Sanusi should be disqualified simply because both he and Gusau, hail from the North. We have had several similar situations in the past. For instance, the late Patrick Okpomo and the late Air Commodore Tony Ikhazobo held the positions of Secretary and Chairman simultaneously. Likewise, Chief P.O.C. Achebe and Effiom Okon, Hon. Ahmed Sani Toro/Dr. Tijani/Col. Mumuni Aminu, and even Barrister Musa Amadu and Aminu Maigari.”
But Segun Odegbami, a former captain of the national team, said there is always a consideration for careful balancing and federal character consideration for appointments into national offices. It is so important in a multi-ethnic and multi-religious country like Nigeria that provision is inscribed into the country’s constitution. “Occasionally there is a blip, but always created by circumstances that cannot be helped, and not as a deliberate strategy to impose any group on the rest. One such situation is Ibrahim Gusau succeeding Amaju Pinnick as President of the NFF when Sanusi was still Secretary General, inadvertently creating the present situation where the two most powerful men in Nigerian football come from the same geographical zone of the country. The reality is that when Sanusi was first engaged over 10 years ago, Amaju Pinnick, from the Southern part of the country, was President,” he said. The Minister stated that sports, especially football, evoke intense emotions among the people and stakeholders. It is important to shift focus away from controversial issues like Sanusi’s continued stay. “We are running a football that is gov- erned by emotions. No matter what you do, people will be sentimental. Therefore, you cannot afford to not do the right thing. Because if you don’t do the right thing, it may be even more important. We cannot continue to operate in an atmosphere that is full of people generating contention and controversy,” the minister said.
Tenure fatigue
By the end of this year’s December, Dr Sanusi, who was appointed on March 30, 2015, would have spent about 10 years in that office. The former lecturer is by far the longest-serving scribe of the Federation, as he has since overtaken the erstwhile occupier of the post, Sani Toro, who was in office for five years and six months. So, one of the most compelling arguments against extending his tenure is the phenomenon of tenure fatigue and leadership stagnation. Having served as the Secretary-General for about a decade, Sanusi’s leadership risks becoming stale, and there is a growing perception that he is no longer bringing fresh ideas or innovative solutions to the pressing issues facing Nigerian football. Over time, even the most competent leaders can lose their effectiveness, and their continued presence can impede organizational renewal and growth. “Honestly, Nigerian football needs a shakeup, a new direction, and leadership that is dynamic and responsive to modern challenges,” Football marketing expert and PR guru, Segun Ogunmola, said. “Fresh leadership can bring new energy, ideas, and perspectives necessary to reinvigorate Nigerian football administration. The NFF, like any other institution, thrives on change, and continuing with the same leadership for an extended period risks stagnation, limiting opportunities for progressive reforms and rejuvenation.”
Controversial tenure and calls for new Sec-Gen
Our correspondent reliably learnt that the move to retain Sanusi is still on despite it being defeated at the Assembly but there is a growing coalition to thwart it. Most of the antagonists of the move hinged their actions on the perceived failure of football under Sanusi’s leadership. They noted that under his stewardship, Nigeria failed to qualify for AFCON backto-back in 2015 and 2017; the U-17 and U-20 failed to make it to the World Cup at the same time for the first time; failure to qualify for the 2022 World Cup and possible loss of the ticket again in 2024, among others. “Nigeria’s football decline has continued under his charge despite his $10,000 monthly salary,” said Comrade Yohanna Pam, the Coordinator, Arewa Youth Sports Forum. “We are raising this alarm to save Nigerian football from its current downward slide. Sanusi, as NFF General Secretary for about 10 years, has been part of this decline and will continue to be if his tenure is extended illegally by a cabal within the NFF.”. Odegbami said, “Let Sanusi give way for people with fresh ideas to come on board not because I hate him but to move our football forward.” While Dr. Sanusi has undoubtedly contributed to Nigerian football in various ways, the time has come for a change in leadership.