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NSC Not The best For Nigerian Sports-Minister

Published

6 years ago

April 19, 2019

Joel Ajayi

Minister of Youth and Sports Barr Solomon Dalung has revealed that he will not recommend coming back of National Sports commission NSC, saying the burden the commission brought is huge.

Dalung said this in Abuja when Sports Online Publisher Association of Nigeria paid him a courtesy visit in his office.

He said: “If I have my way, I will not recommend coming back of NSC into Nigerian sports sector. The burden the commission put on the ministry is enormous and its not good for the growth and development of the sector.

“Most of our federation’s vehicle have been taken away, many of the generators has been taken away. As I speaks to you I have inherited N720 million staff claimed,

Last week I was served another court judgment.

“From my experience and understanding of NSC legacy I don’t think Sports commission is the best for Nigeria.”

Apart from aboved reason, minuster also revealed that he was not the one that scrapped the commission but an administrative technical committee established by the office of the Head of Service at a time the Federal Government was looking at the direction of merging some ministries and agencies of the government.

“based on the report of the committee , which showed that any public servant appointed as the Director General of the NSC will develop a larger than life status in the commission, where in some occasions the DG of the Commission was more powerful than the Permanent. Secretary of the Ministry, which negates the rules of the civil service in the country, the committee therefore recommended that NSC should be scrapped.

“National Sports Commission (NSC), was scrapped by an administrative technical committee set up by the Office of the Head of Service. It was the time of the merger of Ministries and reduction of government agencies.

“The Committee had civil servants, the bureaucrats that were invited and the affected parastatals were invited to defend themselves. NSC lost the battle before panel. They lost the battle because too bureaucratic machinery sees the concept of office of the Director General not in line with the civil service tradition.

“Moreso, once a civil servant is appointed as Director General, he becomes autonomous and very powerful, even more powerful than the Permanent Secretary. So power feud was within the system and that also led to the scrap

So, the technical committee could not determine between the Director General and Permanent Secretary, who was going to be the boss of the ministry. Moreso, previous DG’s of NSC were so powerful that sometimes they sacked Ministers.

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Featured

Nigeria’s Historic Bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games: A Call for National and Global Support

Published

5 days ago

September 30, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

Nigeria is poised to make history as it seeks to host the Centenary Commonwealth Games in 2030, a monumental opportunity that promises to transform the nation’s economy, infrastructure, and global standing.

More than a sporting spectacle, the Games would serve as a catalyst for development across multiple sectors, leaving behind a legacy of national pride and sustainable growth.

The benefits of hosting the Games extend far beyond the sports arena. Nigeria stands to gain both empirical and non-empirical advantages, with direct, indirect, and induced impacts that will touch every corner of society. Infrastructural development will take center stage, with new facilities such as indoor sports halls, conference centers, and improved road networks reshaping urban landscapes while strengthening the nation’s capacity to host future international events.

Economic growth is another significant dividend. Over 10,000 jobs are expected to be created, spanning construction, facility management, event planning, and tourism services.

The hospitality industry will undergo major improvements as hotels and resorts are upgraded to meet international standards, while local restaurants, lounges, and tourist attractions will see a surge in patronage from international visitors. Small and medium enterprises, particularly in the transport, finance, and food service sectors, will become some of the greatest beneficiaries, as the Games generate new demand and expand opportunities for local businesses.
The Commonwealth Games will also accelerate the growth of Nigeria’s sports industry.

Investments in training facilities, coaching, and talent development will inspire a new generation of athletes, ensuring long-term benefits that extend beyond 2030, a major focus of the President Bola Tinubu administration.
At the same time, the process of preparing for the Games will create opportunities for Nigerians to learn new crafts, acquire technical skills, and engage in global-standard event management, thereby strengthening human capacity and innovation across industries.

Mallam Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the Nigeria Sports Commission, and Hon. Bukola Olopade, the Director General, have been widely recognized for their tireless and visionary leadership in repositioning Nigeria’s sporting sector.

Their commitment to facilitating infrastructural development and strengthening grassroots sports development has laid the foundation for Nigeria’s bold bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. Under their leadership, the NSC is fostering strategic partnerships and driving innovation in sports administration, they have demonstrated the nation’s readiness to stage an event of such global magnitude.

Beyond the tangible gains, the hosting of the 2030 Commonwealth Games carries profound symbolic value. It would be a moment of unity and pride, a chance for Nigeria to showcase its cultural richness, resilience, and excellence to the world.
As a centenary edition, the Games would stand as a historic milestone not just for the Commonwealth but for Nigeria itself, cementing its place on the global stage as a capable, ambitious, and forward-looking nation.

The gains from hosting the Commonwealth Games can never be undermined or overemphasized. This is Nigeria’s time to step forward and show the world our resilience, and excellence. We call on every Nigerian, across sectors and communities, to support this noble aspiration.

Nigeria’s pursuit of the 2030 Commonwealth Games is a vision for transformation, a blueprint for national development, and a legacy project that will inspire generations to come.

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