The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Reconciliation Committee inaugurated by the NFF board to look into the misunderstanding between members of the All Nigerian Football Players Union (ANFPU) and the Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria (PFAN) has set up a seven-man constitution drafting committee.
The Chairman of the committee and Deputy Governor of Edo State, Comrade Philip Shaibu, while addressing journalists in Benin City, said the constitution drafting team to be chaired by Mr. Felix Owolabi-Akinloye is expected to come out with recommendations on the process that will lead to a new leadership of a united players’ union.
He said, “The Constitution drafting committee has just two weeks to submit its report and the two weeks expires on the 14th of April, 2023. The Committee is also to make recommendations after the presentation of the newly drafted constitution on the process that will lead to the new leadership of the united union of players in Nigeria.
“Also, after all the documentation which includes drafting of a new constitution and recommendations of the Committee, the House will meet on the 26th of April 2023 to adopt the new constitution and receive the recommendation of the process that will lead to the new leadership of one united players’ union which we will all agreed on. On the 26th of April 2023, we will also be unveiling the name that will be adopted for the new union.”
“We have collectively agreed to have a one players’ union that is not divided. This is a commitment from PFAN and ANFPU to address abnormalities observed in the cause of the meeting which includes slave contracts, ill health, and poor welfare of members,” Shaibu added.
Thanking both unions for accepting to attend the meeting, he said: “We thank PFAN and ANFPU for their acceptance to meet with the Committee in line with our collective commitment to have a formidable players’ union united in the interest of both the retired players and the active players in Nigeria. This sacrifice is one that will go a long way to correcting the abnormalities associated with the welfare of retired players and those on active service.”
The deputy governor further noted, “We have all agreed that this will be the last of any division in the unions and we have agreed that external factors will not be allowed to dictate the affairs of the players’ union. We have all agreed to set up a constitution drafting committee as three members each from PFAN and ANFPU will make up the members of the Committee. The Committee has provided a legal practitioner to guide it and Felix Owolabi will head the Constitutional Drafting Committee.
“In the course of the meeting, we realized that there was the need to have one constitution that will take care of the aspiration of all, including the retired and those players still on active service and also that of the leadership.”
He added, “We have all resolved to have one united, indivisible players Union that will take care of all players in Nigeria and in the Diaspora and also the welfare of those that have retired.”
