The Nigeria National League (NNL) has urged the National Assembly (NASS) to consider putting forward a bill that will address the issues of non-statutory budgetary funding for leagues in the country.

NNL’s chief operating officer, Ayo Abdulrahaman, made the call in an interview with journalists in Abuja on Friday.

“If this can be legislated upon and a law is made to that effect, things will get better for us; from that, we can improve our infrastructure and other sports facilities in bad shape,” he said.

He appealed to the NASS and President Bola Tinubu-led government to consider the request due to football’s role in uniting the country.

“It will not be out of place if a segment or a percentage of funds from either TetFund or any other source is remitted for the funding of the activities of leagues in our country.

“Providing a statutory budgetary sponsorship for the NNL will bring out the best in the league.

“The sports committee in the House of Representatives and the Senate should help us do the needful to ensure the NNL in particular and Nigerian leagues in general thrive like other countries,” he added.

The NNL COO said approved government statutory budgetary sponsorship for their leagues existed in other countries, which informed their sterling performance.

“We are the most important league in the country because we are at the centre, feeding the Premier League and the Nationwide League One (NLO), with clubs doing well and those not doing well.

“We really need support to be able to address the issues of indemnity and also support clubs facing financial challenges,” said Abdulrahaman.

He said the league had yet to secure any sponsorship from any organisation, adding that its only source of income was from club registration and small grants.

According to Abdulrahaman, some countries are experiencing economic meltdowns, but how they affect Nigeria differs from others.

“There is no constitutional provision or act legislated upon for the sponsorship of the Nigeria National League,” he added.

He also appealed to Nigerians and corporate organisations to come to their aid by sponsoring their programmes.

(NAN)