In recent times, there have been comments and articles questioning the place of League Management Company in NFF statutes. Some have even called upon the NFF Electoral Committee to conduct elections into the Board of ‘NPL’ just as they are organizing elections into the lower leagues. Those championing this fault the institutionalisation of LMC within our football structures. In their opinion, LMC is an ‘illegal’ body, ‘not enshrined in the nation’s football laws’ and consequently, it cannot assume a position in the NFF Executive Committee.
But all these smirk of ignorance. It is either these people are ignorant of the relevant documents domiciling LMC in our football laws or if they are aware, there must be some ulterior motive. A perusal of the LMC Supplementary Regulations (Governance structure) agreed with the Premier League clubs since September 6, 2013 and duly filed at CAC with CAC approval duly issued June 2, 2014 will suffice. I have also been privileged to see the communiqué and pictures of the September 6, 2013 meeting with participating Premier League clubs.
It was established that the 20 Premier League clubs were involved in the process that gave birth to the approved governance structure in line with the requirements of Article 18 of the NFF Statutes. If one is talking about elections into the board of the elite league as being clamoured by the defunct NPL proponents, who will be the electorate at the election? Is it not the same 20 Premier League clubs chairmen? By unanimously endorsing that Governance structure and regulations before ultimately agreeing to the composition of the current leadership of the LMC, have they not cast their vote? If you are to conduct an election into the LMC or whatever board they deem fit, today, does it not also follow that they will vote for the same directors currently at the helms?
Let it also be pointed out here that it was the agreement of all the Premier League clubs and LMC to adopt the English Premier League (EPL) model of managing the league while domesticating it to suit our peculiar environment. The September 6, 2013 meeting with the clubs was essentially to discuss and agree to the amendments required to domesticate the EPL model. But was it a wrong decision to do it the EPL way? We have all liked the organization of the EPL, was it a bad idea taking a cue from the most celebrated league in the world?
In all fairness, is the increasing number of away victories in the NPFL not a testament that we are gradually having a replication of the EPL in NPFL? This season, the league winners, Enyimba, had the highest number of away victories (5). The third placed team, Nasarawa United won four away matches in the second stanza, so it wasn’t a surprise that from ninth position at mid-season, they finished high up there. In the same vein, one of the relegated teams (Kwara United) lost the most home matches (5). So the teams’ fortunes were to a large extent decided by their away forms and not home invincibility as was the case in the past. That was the vision of the clubs when they adopted the EPL model. And that’s what they are reaping. Just ponder over this; how many times have you heard of an election into the EPL and or any other top European League?
After reaching an agreement as to the Governance structure/regulations, there was still the issue of NFF putting a seal on LMC and situating it in the statutes. Without this, LMC would have been illegal as some people are erroneously painting it. So, accordingly, the NFF Executive Committee (at its executive committee meeting of OCTOBER 8, 2014 in ABUJA) and the NFF CONGRESS (at its Congress of NOVEMBER 18, 2014 in LAGOS) duly approved this Governance Structure pursuant to the powers granted them under the NFF STATUTES (ARTICLE 78 subsection 2 & 3) as well as FIFA statutes ( ARTICLE 17 and 18) to make regulations and or approve regulations for the management of the domestic leagues, which requires that members can either be ELECTED and or APPOINTED through a fair and independent process.
So for those who think membership of the NFF Executive Committee is only through an election, it is expedient to note that under Article 17 (2) of the FIFA statutes, Members (NFF EXCO) can either be elected or appointed but ‘through a fair and independent process’. This latter proviso in the FIFA statutes was consummated when the 20 Premier League clubs endorsed the Governance structure/regulations as well as the composition of LMC Board.
Just like the EPL, the LMC selection is so thorough. A clear cut process of selecting and appointing the directors is enshrined in the Governance structure to avoid any arguments or problems during transition as witnessed during the times of the NFL which eventually led to its collapse. This is to be done through the SELECTION COMMITTEE that will have 5 representatives comprising 2 members from outgoing board of the LMC, 2 members from the participating Clubs and 1 member from the NFF. The selection committee is also empowered to employ the services of 2 other experts, if needed, (ie. legal and human resources experts) but who have no voting power. This is akin to what exists in the EPL and even the English FA.
The 20 participating Clubs are also required to meet and propose 3 representatives and 3 alternatives to the selection committee through a resolution (Note: a RESOLUTION of the 20 Clubs is technically an ELECTION because it is the opinion/consensus of the majority of the 20 clubs that will be sustained).
The LMC Governance structure/regulations (as approved by the NFF Congress pursuant to Article 78 of NFF STATUTES) provides that ‘the LMC chairman automatically assumes the position as the 2nd VICE PRESIDENT of the NFF in line with NFF statutes and FIFA guidelines where the head of the elite league is automatically admitted as NFF 2nd Vice President’. This has been the case since the elite league became independent in Nigeria some 10 years ago in 2005 and is duly captured in the LMC approved Governance structure.
It must be noted that the LMC governance structure was designed to correct all the anomalies and problems encountered previously and also ensure transparency and openness in the management of the league. Furthermore, it is aimed at guaranteeing professionalism and consistency as well as investor confidence in the league administration through a sustainable structure, free from rancour.
Indeed, when the documents were designed in September 2013, it was not for the benefit of anybody but the system as the current board (the independent Chairman and 2 Independent Directors and 3 Club representatives) only assumed the position on December 18, 2014 over circumstances that were not intentional. The appointment was done in COMPLIANCE with the process prescribed in the LMC Governance STRUCTURE and publicly unveiled.
The LMC version is even more all-embracing than the EPL. Under LMC, the league is managed by a board of 7 directors comprising 3 independent directors, 3 club representatives, and the CEO. This is unlike the English Premier League that is managed by only 2 independent Directors. So with this structure, are the clubs not well represented in the LMC? In fact, outside the three club representatives (directors), there are three alternate representatives (directors) from the clubs. Each director representing the clubs has an alternate. So when he can’t attend meetings, his alternate steps in. This ensured appropriate representation of the clubs in all LMC meetings. There had never been a meeting of the LMC Board that the clubs were not fully represented.
The LMC Governance structure/regulation is not a secret document. It has always been available on the LMC official website (www.npfl.ng). I got all these information from there. Instead of speaking ignorantly, one should avail himself first hand of the provisions of the document. That was what I expected some of these latter day LMC antagonists to do.
The likes of Ambassador Chris Giwa could be excused because his club was not in the NPFL at the time the LMC Governance structure was endorsed by the 20 Premier League clubs but he should have asked questions. That is assuming he has not been privy to the outcome of LMC meetings thus far. He has been part of the LMC-organized NPFL for the past two seasons and hasn’t complained. In fact he had been praising LMC all through the season. Suddenly, Giwa FC loses to Nasarawa United on last match day and their proprietor no longer believes in the LMC.
But the key question is; why now? Giwa is just one of those kicking against LMC. There are some others whose intentions could stretch beyond the LMC Governance structure and NFF Statutes. Why suddenly is there a battle for the soul of LMC? A few days ago, during the NFF and LMC briefing at the National Assembly, the honourable members dubbed LMC the ‘miracle workers’ and suggested the leadership of LMC should be giving National Honours for their achievements in changing Nigerian league positively. In doing this, they expressed amazement at the level of transformation noticed in the NPFL this season. They pledged to create the enabling environment to help LMC attain greater heights.
Why can’t these LMC haters toe the line of these honourable members? It has come to our knowledge that certain people who had been feeding fat on the domestic league are not comfortable with the new order. There was a contract entered by NFL that enslaved the league. That deal has ran out its course and the LMC isn’t willing to do a renewal as it has nothing to do with it as the deal was with the defunct NFL. The deal was signed by the defunct NFL and even the LMC lacks the powers to discuss it talk less of any negotiations. So for the ‘deals men’ the tactic is, boot LMC out, re-instate NFL and renew the deal. That way, they will enslave the domestic league for a further five years. So you can now see that there is more to the LMC-must-be-destroyed crusade than meets the eye.
The clubs, who are the biggest beneficiaries of the LMC era should know better.
They should ask; how much are we earning under the current arrangement; how much did we earn in the past? Answers to these questions should task the relevant authorities. But as long as this ‘Pull LMC down’ project persists, the searchlight will be beamed on the real ‘rapists’ of our league and ‘looters’ of our collective wealth.
*Nwankpa is an author and journalist.
