NPFL: At last, NFF obeys FIFA order, empanels Judicial, Match officiating Committees

By Harry Awurumibe, Edito-in-Chief, Abuja

Apparently complying with the demand of aggrieved members of Nigeria Referees Association (NRA) for the football governing body in Nigeria to implement the FIFA CIRCULAR 2020 before the start of a new football season, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has finally constituted its Judicial and Match officiating Committees.

The Federation also said that the  Judicial and Match officiating Committees which have been constituted will be in place for the next two years.

Recall this reporter exclusively reported in Prompt News, an affiliate publication last week that NRA members threatened to boycott the new Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) billed to kick off on January 8, 2023 unless the NFF empanels its Referees Committee headed by a retired FIFA referee.

They argued that the new league season will not start until NFF put in place its Judicial and Match officiating Committees as demanded by FIFA

CIRCULAR 2020 which the NRA members accused NFF of not willing to implement two years after receiving the circular from the world football ruling body.

However, the NFF President Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusua and his Executive Committee Members in their wisdom have decided to implement the vexed issue of FIFA CIRCULAR 2020 by constituting the four NFF Sub-committees headed by experts.

According to a press statement made available to journalists in Abuja by NFF, the Referees Committee is headed by former FIFA referee, Mrs Faith Irabor, with Mallam Rabiu Umar as Vice Chairman, while the Match Commissioners Committee is headed by Member of NFF Board, Alhaji Babagana Kalli. The vice chairman is Alhaji Ganiyu Majekodunmi, another member of the NFF Board.

Also, the Disciplinary Committee is headed by Barrister J. B. C. Obikwelu, former Vice Chairman of the Anambra State Football Association, while Barrister Gandi Umar Mohammed is Chairman of the Appeals Committee.

The Referees and Match Commissioners’ Committees are scheduled to meet with the NFF leadership at the NFF Secretariat, Abuja on Thursday by 1pm, in preparation for the 2022-2023 Nigeria Professional Football League season commencing on Saturday, 8th January.

FULL LISTS OF MEMBERS:

1. REFEREES COMMITTEE

Mrs Faith Irabor                  – Chairman

Mallam Rabiu Umar           – Vice Chairman

Oba James Odeniran          – Member

Mr Abraham Zakowi          – Member

Mallam Waziri Furo Gawe – Member

Mr. C. C. Chukwujekwu     – Member

Mallam Bello Abubakar      – Member

2. MATCH COMMISSIONERS COMMITTEE

Alh. Babagana Kalli            – Chairman

Alh. Ganiyu Majekodunmi – Vice Chairman

Hon. Usman Maulud           – Member

Alh. Aminu Mammaga       – Member

Alh. Idris Abdullahi Thuraya – Member

Mr. Anthony Ugwu               – Member

Otunba Mustapha Razaq       – Member

Chief Kenneth Nwamuocha – Member

3. DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE

Barr. J. B. C. Obikwelu                  – Chairman

Barr. Abdulrahman Abdulrahman – Vice Chairman

Barr. Ibrahim Mukhtar                  – Member

Barr. Wole Ademoyegun              – Member

Barr. Bello Galadi                         – Member

4. APPEALS COMMITTEE:

Barr. Gandi Umar Mohammed (mni) – Chairman

Barr. Martin Usen Effiong                  – Vice Chairman

Barr. Bemva Akortsaha                      – Member

Barr. Bweino Dauda                           – Member

Barr. Bukar Muazu                             – Member