The minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare has revealed that the dissolution of the operator of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), the League Management Company (LMC) was approved by President Muhammadu Buhari since May 25, 2022.
He made this known during while speaking to journalists at the Presidential Villa after Buhari had Team Nigeria contingents to the 2022 Commonwealth Games and World Athletics championships at a presidential reception.
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According to him, the ministry delayed the announcement to allow the 2021/22 NPFL season end without disruptions.
It will be recalled the Federal Government recently declared the LMC illegal and directed the leadership of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to withdraw operational license given to the company immediately and set up an Interim Management Committee (IMC) to run the league.
“As of May 25, 2022. Mr. President approved the dissolution of the LMC. And the requirements, the directive that the NFF should set up an AMC because of clear evidence that our league was in dire straits. And that is in public space.
“Between May and August, we did not issue that directive, because we wanted the Premier League to complete a season without any disruption, but also during that period, the Ministry made efforts to speak with those in charge.
“There’s a letter that came on September 1 stating clearly that they have numerous problems with the LMC running the league, unpaid emoluments, referees are not paid. Coaches are not paid. All of this is out there in the open.
“So in May, there was a presidential directive and approval. As a ministry, we applied reasonable judgment and delayed that communication. But at the point when the legal ended, and we saw the continuous decline of our football, we felt was the right time to take the necessary action,” he said.
