Minister Calls for Accountability and Reform in Sports Federations
The Minister of Sports Development, John Enoh, has expressed his frustration over the limitations imposed by the laws governing various sporting federations, preventing him from making necessary changes to improve the sector. While his counterparts in other ministries have the authority to replace underperforming individuals, the Minister of Sports is unable to do so. Enoh emphasized the pressing need for major reforms in order to ensure that qualified individuals are managing the federations and to prevent further setbacks in the sports sector.
In an interview with Channels TV, the minister highlighted the importance of holding those responsible for the Olympic debacle accountable. He stated that he had initiated an investigation to identify individuals liable for the negative publicity and embarrassing incidents during the Games. Enoh made it clear that heads would roll if found guilty of negligence, citing specific issues such as the Favour Ofilli controversy and the problems with the athletes’ kit. He emphasized the need to thoroughly interrogate the matter before taking any disciplinary action.
The Minister also addressed the concerns regarding the budget expenditure for the Games. Despite the country spending N12 billion on both the Olympics and Paralympics, with over N8 billion allocated to the Olympics and over N3 billion for the Paralympics, Enoh clarified that the amount was not inadequate. He explained that while the budget covered the competition costs, training and preparation were not fully funded by the country.
Enoh stressed the urgency of addressing these issues and implementing reforms to ensure better performance in future international sports events. Holding the federations accountable and making necessary changes in leadership are crucial steps towards realizing this goal.
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