FIFA has given its formal backing to the establishment of a normalisation committee that will govern the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) while the organisation prepares for fresh Executive Committee elections.

In a letter signed by FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström and directed to NFF Acting General Secretary Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme, the world governing body confirmed that the committee's membership will be jointly determined by FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and put in place as soon as possible.

Mandate and timeline

The normalisation committee's primary responsibility will be to manage all NFF affairs until a new Executive Committee is duly elected. Its mandate carries a firm deadline — the committee must complete its work no later than May 31, 2027.

FIFA also made clear that no member of the normalisation committee will be permitted to stand as a candidate in the forthcoming NFF elections, effectively separating the oversight body from the electoral process it is tasked with facilitating.

Day-to-day operations continue

While the normalisation committee is yet to be formally constituted, the NFF Secretariat will remain responsible for the federation's daily administration and the running of football activities across Nigeria. This transitional arrangement ensures no disruption to the sport during the handover period.

The development follows a turbulent period within Nigerian football governance, with the intervention of both FIFA and CAF signalling the seriousness with which the global and continental bodies are treating the situation at the NFF.