NPFL Club Licensing: NFF Warns Clubs Ahead of New Season

The Nigeria Football Federation has warned Nigeria Premier Football League clubs to comply fully with club licensing regulations ahead of the 2026/27 season, declaring that there will be strict enforcement of the rules with the backing of the National Sports Commission, The PUNCH reports.

The warning was contained in a communiqué issued after the NFF Executive Committee meeting held in Asaba, Delta State, last weekend, where the federation welcomed the NSC’s commitment to support the implementation of the licensing framework.

“The Executive Committee hailed the pronouncement by the National Sports Commission that it is ready to provide full support to the NFF for the strict enforcement of the club licensing regulations, and to shun any attempt by any club to circumvent any of the provisions in the regulations,” part of the communiqué obtained by The PUNCH read.

The renewed push for stricter enforcement comes amid sweeping reforms being introduced to the domestic league by the NSC.

Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, recently announced a prize pool of N2.5bn for the 2026/27 NPFL season and proposed raising the minimum salary for players from N150,000 to N2m as part of efforts to improve the professionalism of the league.

While reiterating the stance of the NSC, Director-General, Bukola Olopade noted that the body aims to reform Nigerian football through the topflight.

“We are determined to reform the league. We are going to reform the league. With President Bola Tinubu and the private sector, the funding that we are enjoying now has never been in the history of Nigerian sports,” Olopade said.

“We can reform our football through the league. If we get the league right, we get the national teams right and we get football administration structures put in place.”

Speaking on the proposed N2m minimum wage, the NSC Director-General said the reforms were aimed at making the domestic league more competitive and attractive to players.

“We cannot continue to see our players leave Nigeria for leagues in countries like Benin Republic and Vietnam to earn as little as 800 dollars. We must build a professional league that provides the right environment for players to develop and thrive,” he said.

The NPFL board has tentatively fixed August 27 to 29 for the commencement of the 2026/27 season.

According to the approved football calendar, the campaign will run until May 28, 2027, with fixtures for the President Federation Cup also included as organisers seek to maintain a more structured domestic football schedule.