The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has announced sweeping measures to raise officiating standards across domestic leagues, warning referees and assistant referees that misconduct will now attract the most severe consequences.

In a formal memo issued by the NFF Refereeing Development Committee and signed by Mohammed Ameenu on behalf of the federation’s president, the governing body expressed deep concern over what it described as “inconsistent and troubling” officiating trends in recent matches across the NPFL, NNL and NWFL.

While the memo acknowledged that many match officials continue to perform diligently and uphold the laws of the game, it stressed that a growing number of referees have acted in ways that compromise the credibility of Nigerian football.

To restore trust and accountability, the NFF has established a new monitoring committee mandated to deploy evaluators to stadiums nationwide. These field officers will submit real-time performance assessments directly to the NFF leadership, enabling swift disciplinary action where necessary.

The memo reiterated that referees must carry out their duties with “diligence, honesty, neutrality and professionalism,” warning that anyone found guilty of bias, match manipulation or dereliction of duty will not only be banned from officiating but could face prosecution.

“Referees and assistant referees are warned that anyone who disregards these guidelines and acts in a manner that compromises the integrity of the game will not only be dismissed from refereeing but will also be handed over to security agencies for prosecution on charges related to sabotage and match manipulation,” the NFF cautioned.

The federation said the new oversight measures represent its strongest push yet to rebuild public confidence and protect the integrity of Nigerian football competitions.