The President of Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria, Tijani Babangida, MON led a PFAN delegation to pay a courtesy visit to the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko in Abuja.
The visit which was ostensibly to give support to Dikko’s appointment and the need to work with the PFAN, who are by the Act of parliament establishing the NSC, is a member of the board.
PFAN boss had with him the first Vice President Clement Temile; General Secretary, Comrade Edema Fuludu; PFAN Commissioner North West, Comrade Magaji Boss; Chairman Caretaker Committee PFAN FCT Comrade Mustapha Mubdiyu and 1st Vice Chairman PFAN FCT Caretaker Committee,Mrs Rotimi Michael.
Babangida MON said in his remarks that PFAN is willing to support the NSC, as this is a new dawn in development of sports in Nigeria.
He acknowledged that Dikko he is experienced and a part of the football family, and so expect PFAN, to have unfettered access to his office. He also told the NSC Chairman to refer any group or groups pretending to be players Union to come to PFAN the recognized by law players body.
Mallam Shehu Dikko who was obviously pleased with the courtesy visit and appreciated the union for first and foremost congratulating him immediately he was appointed.
Mallam Shehu Dikko remarked that the NSC, is fine tuning the laws that will provide an enabling environment so that the focus will shift from competition based sports to developmental based sports.
He says sports for development is the mantra. Development in facilities, in human capital development and empowerment of current and retired sports men and women.
He said the country has never had it like this with appointment of square pegs in square holes, as President Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has done. Tinubu, he says has given sports, especially football, more support in financing, than any other previous administration.
Shehu Dikko appealed for unity amongst all sports persons current and past, adding that negative publicity and in-house fighting will scare sponsors away and make the sports sector suffer deprivation.
The meeting gave everyone present an opportunity to speak on issues that will promote or de-promote football and sports in Nigeria.
The NSC chairman agreed to provide opportunities to make PFAN, achieve her objectives and appeal that differences cannot be settled in pages of newspaper and social media, but in-house and if necessary, appropriate dispute resolution chamber would to be established.
