By Hosea Parah
The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has called for a comprehensive restructuring of Nigerian football governance.
SWAN said the leadership vacuum offers an opportunity to reset rather than make another temporary administrative adjustment.
The association made the demand in an 18-page position paper presented by its president, Isaiah Benjamin, to the joint FIFA/CAF fact-finding mission.
The presentation took place in Abuja on Thursday, following the resignation of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Ibrahim Gusau; General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi, and board members.
Benjamin urged stakeholders to reconsider the governance architecture, from the grassroots to the NFF executive committee, to promote stability and accountability. He warned that rushing into another election under existing structures could reproduce weaknesses that had repeatedly triggered governance disputes, leadership crises, and transitional arrangements.
He said such a framework should be democratic, accountable, commercially sustainable, development-oriented, and competitive.
A major element of the submission was SWAN’s call to end what it described as the approximately 16-year exclusion of sports media from formal football governance structures. He said the media remained an important source of institutional memory, public accountability, and stakeholder engagement within the football ecosystem.
Benjamin proposed structured media participation in stakeholder consultations, transitional or advisory arrangements, and statutory recognition of the sports media constituency.
He also called for representation in football governing bodies, where applicable laws and statutes permit.
Beyond the NFF, Benjamin called for reforms across the football pyramid, urging State Football Associations to become genuine development institutions. He also advocated stronger governance and licensing frameworks for the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL), and youth football.
SWAN’s proposed roadmap includes: a national governance audit, stakeholder mapping, and a FIFA/CAF-supported national football dialogue. It also proposed statutory and electoral reforms, reviews of Congress and Electoral College representation, and transitional governance where necessary.