The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has urged FIFA and CAF to oversee the creation of a new, inclusive governance architecture for Nigerian football, including a reconstituted Electoral College that reflects the country’s wider football ecosystem.
In its position paper to the FIFA/CAF Fact-Finding Mission, SWAN said the composition and philosophy of the Electoral College must be reviewed before any fresh election is conducted.
The association argued that an Electoral College should not simply reproduce existing power relationships but should reflect the legitimate constituencies involved in Nigerian football.
It called for a process to determine who qualifies as a football stakeholder, how each constituency should be represented, who should possess voting or consultative rights, how proportional representation should be achieved, how gender representation should be addressed and how conflicts of interest should be prevented.
SWAN added that where FIFA regulations do not permit a particular stakeholder to become a voting member, an alternative formal mechanism should be created to ensure participation.
Sports Media Seeks Restoration After 16 Years
One of SWAN’s principal demands is the restoration of sports media to an appropriate place in Nigerian football governance after approximately 16 years of exclusion.
The association said the media’s contribution extends beyond reporting press conferences.
It described modern football as a combination of sport, entertainment, media, technology, commerce and national image, arguing that sports journalism contributes directly to the economic and public value of football.
SWAN therefore proposed a permanent Football Media and Communications Governance Framework covering accreditation, access, broadcasting, digital media, content rights, statistics, archives, photography, international media, crisis communication, transparency and information access.
The association requested formal participation in stakeholder consultations and the reform process, including consideration for a place in the Normalisation Committee or an appropriate advisory structure.
It also proposed appropriate sports media recognition within the Electoral College and future NFF governance organs where permitted by applicable statutes.
SWAN clarified that it was not demanding a personal seat for an individual journalist.
Rather, it wants institutional representation for the sports media constituency, with its representative selected through a transparent process.
Broader Stakeholder Representation
The position paper proposed a comprehensive stakeholder map covering football administration, football professionals, development structures, the football-support ecosystem and public institutions.
The proposed categories include:
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NFF and State Football Associations;
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recognised leagues and clubs;
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players and coaches;
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referees and technical experts;
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former internationals;
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women’s and youth football;
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grassroots football;
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futsal and beach soccer;
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academies;
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sports media;
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supporters;
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commercial partners;
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broadcasters;
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medical and sports science professionals;
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stadium and infrastructure operators;
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the National Sports Commission and relevant government agencies.
SWAN said representation must remain consistent with FIFA and CAF requirements, but insisted that inclusivity should be the starting point rather than the exception.
State FAs Must Stop Acting as Electoral Machinery
The association also called for a fundamental review of State Football Associations, saying they must become genuine football development institutions rather than structures primarily used for national electoral contests.
The review, according to SWAN, should examine their electoral systems, financial independence, relationship with clubs, grassroots responsibilities, accountability, tenure, stakeholder participation and relationship with the NFF.
The paper similarly called for stronger clubs and leagues, noting that a national federation cannot be stronger than the football ecosystem supporting it.
SWAN urged reforms in the governance of the NPFL, NWFL, NNL and Nationwide League, alongside improvements in club licensing, player welfare, broadcasting, commercialisation, infrastructure and revenue distribution.
The association said the objective should be to create leagues capable of increasingly sustaining themselves commercially.
Women’s Football, Players and Technical Personnel
SWAN demanded meaningful representation for women’s football in policy, Congress, league governance, development planning, commercial decisions and relevant Executive Committee structures.
It also called for stronger institutional participation for active players, retired players, former internationals, coaches, referees and technical experts.
Their involvement, the association said, should influence decisions on contracts, welfare, competitions, technical development, refereeing, safeguarding, career development and football standards.
Government, Autonomy and Accountability
SWAN supported a fresh examination of the legal relationship between the Federal Government, National Sports Commission, NFF, State Football Associations, clubs, leagues and other football institutions.
It said legislative reform must preserve football autonomy while ensuring accountability for public resources.
The association stressed that the National Assembly, rather than a football transition body, must retain its constitutional responsibility for legislation.
It also urged FIFA and CAF to help facilitate a genuinely inclusive reform process instead of simply validating a structure for technical compliance.
According to SWAN, a structure can comply with FIFA rules and still remain institutionally inadequate.
Reform Before Election
The association’s proposed sequence places governance reform before electoral preparation.
Under the roadmap, stakeholders would first conduct a national governance audit, map the football ecosystem, hold a national football dialogue and review the NFF Statutes and Electoral Code.
Only after the representation framework had been established would the transitional authorities prepare the Electoral College, voters’ register and electoral timetable.
Recognised constituencies would then select their representatives before the election of the NFF governing body.
SWAN also called for post-election reforms to become binding institutional responsibilities of the new leadership.
It warned against using the current crisis to conduct an election and then using the election to return to the same system that produced the crisis.
The association proposed five guiding principles for the new governance structure:
Inclusion, integrity, representation, accountability and performance.
It concluded that the objective of the reform should not merely be to return Nigeria to football governance, but to return Nigerian football to good governance.