World football governing body, FIFA, has approved the appointment of a normalisation committee to manage the affairs of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) pending fresh elections into its executive committee.
The approval was conveyed in a letter from FIFA to the current head of the federation, Emmanuel Ikpeme, following a decision by the Bureau of the FIFA Council on Thursday.
NFF President, Ibrahim Gusau, and the federation’s General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi, resigned from their positions in August following the failure of several national teams to qualify for continental and global tournaments.
The proposed normalisation committee is expected to restructure and oversee the federation’s affairs before the election of a new executive committee.
In a statement, the NFF confirmed FIFA’s approval of the arrangement pending the conduct of fresh elections.
“The Bureau of the FIFA Council on Thursday approved the appointment of a Normalisation Committee to manage the affairs of the Nigeria Football Federation, pending fresh elections into the NFF Executive Committee,” the statement said.
The letter, signed by FIFA Secretary-General, Mattias Grafström, stated that FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) would jointly participate in selecting members of the committee.
It added that the committee would be required to complete its assignment by May 31, 2027, paving the way for the election and assumption of office of a new NFF president and executive committee members from June 2027.
“The normalisation committee shall consist of a suitable number of members, who will be appointed jointly by FIFA and CAF as soon as possible.
“The period during which the normalisation committee shall perform its functions shall expire as soon as it has fulfilled all of its tasks, but by no later than 31 May 2027.”
The NFF also disclosed that members of the normalisation committee would not be eligible to contest any positions in the forthcoming federation elections.
According to the statement, the federation’s secretariat would continue to handle its daily administrative responsibilities and manage the country’s football affairs until the committee is constituted.
“None of the members of the normalisation committee will be eligible for the positions to be filled during the upcoming NFF elections under any circumstances.
“In the meantime, the Secretariat of the NFF will continue with the day-to-day running of the organisation and administration of the country’s football pending the appointment of the Normalisation Committee,” the statement added..