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2 years After :The Impacts of Ibrahim Gusau’s Administration on the Nigerian Football

Published

6 months ago

September 28, 2024

By Abimbola Olawale

Ibrahim Musa Gusau’s administration of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) marks a significant chapter in Nigerian football history. Upon his election as NFF president on 30 September 2022, Gusau inherited a federation rife with controversies, financial challenges, and underperformance in international competitions.

His leadership brought with it fresh perspectives, strategic thinking, and a people-oriented approach to governance. Over time, the positive impacts of his administration began to manifest, transforming various aspects of Nigerian football and the administrative structure of the NFF.

His two years in office is fostering development at the grassroots level to improving transparency, accountability, and the performance of Nigerian football teams on the global stage.

One of the cornerstones of Ibrahim Gusau’s administration has been the prioritization of grassroots football development. He recognized that the future of Nigerian football depends on a robust foundation, which can only be achieved by nurturing young talents from an early age. Gusau’s administration made deliberate efforts to revive and promote youth football across the country, ensuring that promising players receive the right training and exposure. For the first time ever, Nigeria participated in the CAF secondary school football tournament for both boys and girls, they also collaborated with the Universal Secondary Education Board in order to discover these youths in the schools.

Through partnerships with state football associations, Gusau’s administration gave an enabling environment for the thriving of several youth leagues and academy programs at the local level. This initiative has enabled thousands of young footballers to showcase their talents, with a structured pathway for advancement into the professional ranks. The promotion of school football competitions at both primary and secondary levels has also been instrumental in identifying and nurturing young players.

These grassroots efforts have begun to pay off, with several young talents emerging and being scouted by local and international clubs. Gusau’s administration facilitated better access to football scholarships and international trials for young Nigerian players, ensuring that the country’s football future remains bright.

Before Gusau’s tenure, the NFF had faced accusations of financial mismanagement and lack of transparency, which led to distrust among stakeholders and strained relationships with sponsors. Gusau made it a priority to restore public confidence by introducing transparent financial management practices and auditing processes. His administration established mechanisms to ensure that funds allocated to the NFF were properly utilized for their intended purposes, especially in football development and team support.

One of the key initiatives was the adoption of an open accounting system where financial transactions were made public, allowing stakeholders, including fans and media, to monitor how funds were being spent. This move not only boosted confidence among sponsors and partners but also reduced corruption and mismanagement within the federation. Furthermore, Gusau’s administration implemented cost-saving measures, ensuring that funds were redirected to critical areas, such as player welfare, and training facilities.

With improved financial accountability, the NFF under Gusau secured more corporate sponsorships, partnerships, and funding from international football bodies like FIFA and CAF. These resources have significantly contributed to the federation’s activities, providing much-needed support for the various national teams

Under Gusau’s leadership, women’s football in Nigeria has witnessed a significant resurgence. Recognizing the importance of gender equality in sports, Gusau has actively worked to elevate the status of women’s football, ensuring that female players receive the same attention, resources, and support as their male counterparts.

One of the standout achievements was the revitalization of the Nigeria Women’s Football League (NWFL). Gusau’s administration, in collaboration with stakeholders in women’s football, introduced reforms that improved the organization and professionalism of the league. These changes attracted effective media coverage of women’s football increased, giving female footballers more visibility and opportunities.

Gusau’s administration also ensured that the women’s national team, the Super Falcons, received adequate preparation for international competitions. In 2023, the Super Falcons delivered an outstanding performance at the FIFA Women’s World Cup, reaching the knockout stages and cementing Nigeria’s place as a powerhouse in African and global women’s football. The team’s success is a direct result of improved training facilities, better remuneration for players, and the hiring of experienced technical staff, all spearheaded by Gusau’s administration.

Another critical area where Ibrahim Gusau’s administration has made a significant impact is in player and coach welfare. For years, Nigerian footballers had struggled with issues such as unpaid wages, inadequate accommodation, and substandard travel arrangements. These challenges had a demotivating effect on players, often resulting in subpar performances in international competitions.

Gusau tackled these issues head-on by prioritizing the welfare of players and technical staff. His administration ensured that players’ allowances, bonuses, and salaries were paid on time, eliminating the frequent protests that had plagued previous NFF administrations. Gusau also worked with the Nigerian government and private sponsors to improve accommodation, travel arrangements, and medical care for national team players and coaching staff.

Moreover, Gusau’s administration took steps to incentivize players and coaches by introducing performance-based bonuses and awards. This move has motivated players to give their best in every game, resulting in improved performances from both the men’s and women’s national teams. Coaches have also benefited from these reforms, with many receiving specialized training courses and international exposure to stay updated with modern coaching techniques.

The improved infrastructure has not only enhanced the quality of football in Nigeria but also increased the country’s chances of hosting international tournaments. Under Gusau’s leadership, Nigeria has expressed interest in hosting major continental and global football events, which could further boost the nation’s football profile.

One of the most visible areas where Ibrahim Gusau’s administration has made a positive impact is the performance of Nigeria’s national teams in international competitions. When he took over as NFF president, Nigeria’s football teams had been struggling to perform at the highest levels, with disappointing results in tournaments such as the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) and World Cup qualifiers.

Gusau’s leadership brought a renewed sense of focus and discipline to the national teams. He appointed experienced coaches and technical staff, ensuring that the teams were well-prepared for competitions. Additionally, his administration worked to resolve internal conflicts within the teams, fostering unity and a winning mentality among the players.

As a result, Nigeria’s national teams have seen a resurgence in form. The Super Eagles, Nigeria’s men’s national team, have improved their performances in AFCON qualifiers and friendly matches, regaining their status as one of Africa’s top football teams. Similarly, the women’s national team, the Super Falcons, impressed at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, as mentioned earlier, reaching the knockout stages and earning praise for their determination and skill.

Gusau’s administration also focused on building strong relationships with international football governing bodies such as FIFA, CAF (Confederation of African Football), and other national football associations. These partnerships have been instrumental in securing funding, technical assistance, and capacity-building opportunities for the NFF and Nigerian football as a whole.

One of the significant achievements in this area was Nigeria’s increased participation in FIFA and CAF programs, including those aimed at developing football infrastructure, women’s football, and youth football. Gusau’s administration ensured that Nigeria remained active in these global and continental initiatives, which brought various benefits, including access to international grants and expertise.

Additionally, Gusau’s administration played a key role in advocating for Nigerian referees and officials to be recognized and included in international tournaments. This has helped raise the profile of Nigerian football officials, with more of them being appointed to officiate at CAF and FIFA qualifying matches. They efforts are been intensified to ensure that they are at the FIFA World Cup and AFCON.

Corporate sponsorship has long been a challenge for the NFF, with inconsistent support from private sector partners in previous administrations. Gusau’s administration tackled this issue by fostering a business-friendly environment and engaging potential sponsors through strategic partnerships.

Through effective media engagement and public relations campaigns, the NFF under Gusau succeeded in attracting major corporate sponsors for the national teams and the domestic leagues. These sponsorships provided much-needed financial support for player development, team preparation, and general football administration. The partnerships have also extended to broadcasting rights, with more Nigerian football matches being televised, increasing the visibility and commercial appeal of the sport.

Ibrahim Gusau’s administration has undoubtedly made a lasting positive impact on the Nigerian Football Federation and the nation’s football landscape as a whole. His focus on grassroots development, transparency, player

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Business

Tax Reform Bills: The Verdict of Nigerians

Published

2 weeks ago

March 6, 2025

The Gleamer

Ismaila Ahmad Abdullahi Ph.D

The public hearings conducted recently by the two Chambers of the National Assembly have elicited positive responses from a broad spectrum of Nigerians, cutting across regional interest groups, government agencies, civil society groups, concerned individuals, the academia, and Labour Unions, among diverse others. Contrary to a few dissensions hitherto expressed in the media, almost all the stakeholders who spoke during the week-long sessions were unanimous in their declaration that the hallowed Chambers should pass the tax reform bills after a clean-up of the grey areas.

The public hearings were auspicious for all Nigerians desirous of economic growth and fiscal responsibility. They were also a watershed moment for the Federal Inland Revenue Service, which had been upbeat about the tax reforms. Indeed, the public hearings had rekindled hope in the tenets of democracy that guarantee freedom of expression and equitable space for cross-fertilisation of ideas. Without gainsaying the fact, the tax reform bills have been unarguably about the most thought-provoking issues in Nigeria today, drawing variegated perspectives and commentaries from even unlikely quarters such as the faith-based leaders, student bodies, and trade unions, which speaks much about the importance of the bills.

In the build-up to the public hearings, not many people believed that the bills would make it to the second reading, much less the public hearings. Even the Northern stakeholders who seemed unlikely to support the passage of the bills have softened their stance and have given valuable suggestions that would enrich the substance of the bills. The Arewa Consultative Forum came to the public hearings well-prepared with a printed booklet that addressed their concerns. It concluded with an advisory that the bills should be “Well planned, properly communicated, strategically implemented and ample dialogue and political consensus allowed for the reforms to be accepted.”

The concerns of ACF ranged from the composition of the proposed Nigeria Revenue Service Board as contained in Part 111, Section 7 of the bill, the unlimited Presidential power to exempt/wave tax payment as proposed in Section 75(1) of the bill, the family income or inheritance tax as contained in Part 1, Section 4(3) of the bill, to the issues around development levy and VAT. On the development levy, the ACF stated that unless the Federal Government is considering budgetary funding for TETFUND, NASENI and NITDA, it does not see the “wisdom behind the plan to replace (them) with NELFUND”.

The position of the North was equally reinforced by the Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria, Northern Elders Forum, Kano State Government, Professor Auwalu Yadudu, and the FCT Imams. Like the ACF, these stakeholders lent their respective voices to the Section on the Inheritance Tax in Part 1 of the bill and the use of the term ‘ecclesiastical’, which, in their views, undermines certain religious rights and beliefs. The Kano State Government, represented by Mahmud Sagagi, affirmed that “we support tax modernisation” but cautioned that “we must ensure that this process does not come at the expense of states’ constitutional rights and economic stability”. Professor Auwalu Yadudu, a constitutional law professor, drew attention to the use of the ‘supremacy clause’ and cautioned that the repeated use of “notwithstanding” in the bills would undermine the supremacy of the Nigerian constitution if passed as such.

Other stakeholders that made contributions at the sessions included the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas, Fiscal Responsibility Commission, Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, Nigeria Customs Service, and a host of others. While most of their concerns bordered on technical issues requiring fine-tuning, they were unanimous in their support for the bills. They aligned with the position of the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Zacch Adedeji, Ph.D. and the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Mr Taiwo Oyedele, which is that the extant tax laws and fiscal regulations are obsolete necessitating reforms aimed at creating a fair and equitable tax and fiscal space to grow Nigeria’s economy.

In one of the sessions, Dr Zaach Adedeji expounded on the criss-cross of trade activities in the Free Trade Zone whereby companies misuse tax waivers as exporters to sell their goods or services in the Customs Area at an amount usually less than the price the operators in the Customs Area who pay VAT and other taxes sell theirs thereby disrupting business transactions. This way, the operators in the Free Trade Zone shortchange the government in paying their due taxes by circumventing extant regulations, which are inimical to the economy’s growth.

Overall, the presentations were forthright, foresighted, and helpful in elucidating the issues contained in the bills. According to the statistics read out at the end of the hearings at the Senate, 75 stakeholders were invited, 65 made submissions, and 61 made presentations. At the House of Representatives 53 stakeholders made presentations. By all means, this is a fair representation. Given the presentations, it is evident that the National Assembly has gathered enough materials to guide its deliberations on the bills. As we look forward to the passage of the bills, we commend the leadership of the National Assembly for their unwavering commitment to making the bills see the light of the day.

Abdullahi is the Director of the Communications and Liaison Department, FIRS.

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