Former member of the Nigeria Football Federation and Executive Chairman of the Federal Character Commission, Hulayat Motunrayo Omidiran, has reaffirmed her leadership’s resolve to reposition the Commission and strengthen enforcement of the federal character principle despite persistent funding constraints.

Hon. Omidiran gave the assurance on Friday during the Commission’s 2026 budget defence before the House of Representatives Committee on Federal Character at the National Assembly in Abuja.

She told lawmakers that inadequate budgetary allocations have continued to hamper the Commission’s statutory responsibilities, including nationwide monitoring, compliance audits and enforcement actions across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

“We are focused and determined to do the work that the Constitution and the President have entrusted us with,” Omidiran stated.

The FCC boss, however, maintained that the Commission remains committed to promoting equity, fairness and balanced representation in line with its constitutional mandate.

“As a Commission, it is our responsibility to engage with relevant government parastatals and ministries to secure the necessary funding we require. We believe that with consultation and collaboration, it will be a successful venture for the Commission,” she added.

Earlier, Chairman of the House Committee on Federal Character, Ahmed Idris Wase, expressed concern over what he described as near-zero allocation to the Commission, warning that such financial shortfalls significantly weaken its operational effectiveness.

The Plateau State lawmaker assured the Commission of the Committee’s legislative backing in pushing for improved funding and enhanced capacity to fully execute its constitutional mandate.

“We cannot reasonably expect the Federal Character Commission to enforce compliance across Ministries, Departments and Agencies while grappling with insufficient funding,” Wase said.

“If we are genuinely committed to fairness, equity and national cohesion, then we must be deliberate in adequately funding the institution established to safeguard these principles.

“As a Committee, we shall work closely with the leadership of the Commission to ensure that its budgetary provisions reflect the magnitude of its mandate. The era of skeletal or token funding must give way to realistic and sustainable financial support,” he added.

The budget defence session ended with both the House Committee and the Commission pledging closer collaboration aimed at strengthening institutional capacity, enhancing accountability and promoting equitable representation within Nigeria’s public service.

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry said on Friday she was unaware of world soccer body (FIFA) chief Gianni Infantino’s presence at the first meeting of the Board of Peace, along with U.S. President Donald Trump, and said she would look into the matter.

Infantino, who is also an IOC member, took part in the meeting of The Board of Peace, established under Trump, with a focus on Gaza’s reconstruction fund.

The FIFA chief appeared on stage with several politicians, sported a red hat with ‘USA’ on the front and the numbers 45-47, for the two non-consecutive presidencies of Trump.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino wears a USA hat as he attends the inaugural Board of Peace meeting at the U.S. Institute of Peace in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 19, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque 

Infantino also displayed the FIFA collaboration agreement with The Board of Peace, which includes building 50 mini-pitches near schools and residential areas in Gaza, five full-size pitches across multiple districts, a state-of-the-art FIFA academy and a new 20,000-seat national stadium.

“I wasn’t aware of that, that we had an IOC member front and centre,” Coventry told a press conference during the Milano Cortina Olympics.

“Now that you guys (journalists) made us aware of it we will go back and have a look at it,” she said. “The IOC Charter is very clear what it expects of its members. We will go and research into the alleged signing of documents.”

The Olympic Charter states that members must always act independently of commercial and political interests. They also cannot accept “from governments, organisations, or other parties, any mandate or instructions liable to interfere with the freedom of their action and vote,” the Charter says.

“I think from the IOC’s point of view we will continue to be politically neutral,” Coventry said. “That’s the only way for us as an organisation to ensure that we allow for there to be fairness on the field of play. That’s what we will continue to do as we walk into the future.”

Trump has met Infantino several times, with the United States co-hosting this summer’s soccer World Cup along with Mexico and Canada.

The U.S. President was also awarded FIFA’s inaugural peace prize in December for his efforts to promote dialogue and de-escalation in some of the world’s biggest hotspots, the soccer body said at the time.

Coventry, elected in 2025, has not yet met Trump, with the 2028 Summer Olympics to be held in Los Angeles.

-Reuters

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

Calls for the removal of the Confederation of African Football’s General Secretary, Véron Mosengo-Omba, have intensified after a member of CAF’s executive committee publicly challenged the legality of his continued stay in office.

Samir Sobha, who also serves as president of the Mauritius Football Association, said Mosengo-Omba is “occupying the seat illegally” and should step aside. His remarks, first reported by The Guardian newspaper in the United Kingdom, add to concerns previously raised by Nigerian journalist Osasu Obayiuwana.

Sobha argued that Mosengo-Omba, 66, no longer holds the position legitimately under CAF’s employment regulations. According to Regulation 130 of CAF’s employment handbook, 63 is the compulsory retirement age for staff, with the possibility of a single three-year extension granted at the discretion of the president or the general secretary.

Mosengo-Omba was appointed general secretary in March 2021 at the age of 61. He turned 63 in October 2022 and was subsequently granted a three-year extension by CAF president Patrice Motsepe. That extension, Sobha contends, expired on 15 October 2025.

“As per the statutes, he is occupying the seat illegally right now,” Sobha was quoted as saying. “I don’t think that the SG is in any legal position to make decisions, to sign a document. I’m pleading with the president to rectify this position. We need to respect the statutes.”

He added that a decision should be taken swiftly to ensure the appointment of what he described as a “full-fledged and legitimate general secretary,” claiming that several African FA presidents share his view that Mosengo-Omba’s mandate has lapsed.

When asked about the matter following CAF’s executive committee meeting last Friday in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Motsepe declined to provide specific details, stating: “Retirement is governed by our rules and regulations. We deal with those things not just in accordance with legality, but also with governance. We will take the best decision as CAF, concerning employees.”

Sobha, however, maintained that corrective action is necessary. “Patrice Motsepe is a very good person; that’s my personal opinion. But it happens that things are not going in the right direction. Some issues need to be fixed,” he said.

Mosengo-Omba was absent from the Dar es Salaam meeting due to what was described as an urgent family matter in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Sobha said he would have raised his objections directly had the general secretary been present.

In a separate but related development, Sobha also addressed the controversy surrounding last month’s Africa Cup of Nations final in Rabat, where Morocco lost 1–0 to Senegal after a disputed penalty decision led to a temporary abandonment of play.

The Mauritian official apologised to Morocco for what he described as “a great injustice,” arguing that competition rules were not properly applied when Senegal’s players left the field before play resumed.

“I’m not saying we should not give the trophy to the Senegalese team. What has happened has happened already. We can’t change it,” Sobha said. “But we should put our ego aside and agree that an injustice has been done.”

His comments further underline growing tensions within CAF’s leadership ranks at a time when the organisation is facing renewed scrutiny over governance, regulatory compliance, and match officiating standards.

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H