By Princess-Ekwi Ajide, Abuja
The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare says sports federations in Nigeria cannot be bigger than the country, because their legitimacy stems from the sovereignty of the country.
In a statement delivered at the inauguration of the Interim Management Committee of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, the Minister posited that the relationship between sports federations and government should be constructive, collaborative and complementary and not antagonistic and adversarial.
Dare, stressed that “whenever there is a departure (from collaborative relationships), it becomes clear that other interests above that of the sports and athletes have crept in.
He stated that whatever power the federations and their boards have, they only exercise them on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria, under the direct supervision of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development.
The Minister urged sports federations not to take advantage of the privilege of legitimacy they enjoy to denigrate the authority of the Federal Government before international organizations and on the altar of enlightened self -interests.
