Civil Coalition Moves Against Illegal Two-Man Rule at National Sports Commission

A new coalition of sports stakeholders has emerged, determined to challenge the legitimacy of the current National Sports Commission operating without its constitutionally mandated governing board.

The group, made up of former athletes, administrators, legal experts, and youth advocates, insists that the present two-man arrangement is not only unlawful but also detrimental to the future of Nigerian sports.

They argue that the Establishment Act of the NSC is explicit in prescribing a 17-member governance structure, and any deviation from this framework amounts to a violation of the law.

According to the coalition, the absence of a properly constituted board undermines transparency, accountability, and inclusiveness, leaving the commission vulnerable to abuse of public funds and arbitrary decision-making.

The group has vowed to pursue legal redress, including filing a suit in the Federal High Court to compel the Presidency and the National Assembly to immediately reconstitute the board.

They also plan to petition the Office of the Auditor-General to investigate all expenditures made by the commission during the period it operated outside its legal framework.

Furthermore, the coalition is calling for sanctions against individuals who authorised or participated in the unlawful administration of the NSC.

They insist that penalties must be enforced to deter future violations, including removal from office, disqualification from holding public positions in sports administration, and possible criminal prosecution for mismanagement of public funds.

The movement has already begun mobilising support from civil society organisations, youth groups, and international sports bodies, with the aim of restoring credibility to Nigerian sports administration.

Their message is clear: the law must prevail, and the National Sports Commission must return to its rightful structure if Nigerian sports is to thrive.