Stationery Stores Football Club of Lagos have welcomed the resignation of the former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Board and called on the Presidency to activate the FIFA provision for the establishment of a Normalisation Committee to oversee reforms in Nigerian football.
Stationery Stores’ position comes amid the ongoing transition in Nigerian football administration following the resignation of the Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau-led NFF Board and the Presidency’s call for stakeholders to work together towards building a stronger and more accountable football system.
In a statement dated 28 August 2026 and signed by Chairman, Dr Adetilewa Adebajo, the Lagos-based club also welcomed the Presidency’s intervention in the country’s football administration and its directive for government sports agencies to engage relevant football stakeholders in ensuring continuity and facilitating a broad reform process.
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The club said the transition should provide an opportunity to fundamentally restructure football administration in Nigeria.
Stationery Stores Want Clubs To Lead Football Administration
Stationery Stores stated that football administration should be led by football clubs and managed as a commercial enterprise, in line with established global models.
The club called on the Presidency to repeal what it described as existing commercially restrictive football laws and establish a Football Charter for football clubs, similar to frameworks created for organisations such as the NBA and ICAN.
It further proposed that all of Nigeria’s football clubs be designated as national assets as part of the legislative process.
“Our position is that football administration should be led by football clubs and managed as a commercial enterprise, in line with proven global models. The Presidency should repeal the existing commercially restrictive football laws and establish a Football Charter for football clubs, like those created for bodies such as the NBA and ICAN. As part of the legislative process, it should designate all nation’s football teams as national assets.,” the club stated
Stationery Stores, which described itself as the oldest surviving private football club in Nigeria, said it was ready to support and contribute to the reform process.
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The club added that it had already submitted a comprehensive reform proposal to FIFA for review and critique.
Club Calls For FIFA Normalisation Committee
The Lagos club is also urging the Presidency to activate FIFA Statutes Article 8.2, which provides for the establishment and administration of a Normalisation Committee in certain circumstances.
According to Stationery Stores FC statement, such a committee would provide a platform for greater transparency and accountability while ensuring that private football clubs have a place in the reform process.
“We are now calling on the Presidency for the activation of FIFA Statutes Article 8.2. This statute will guide the set-up and administration of a Normalisation Committee for Nigerian football reforms,” the statement read.
The club believes a FIFA Normalisation Committee would provide the best framework for conducting the reform process and ensuring that it is inclusive of private clubs.
