This memorandum is prepared as an advisory submission to the Ad-Hoc Administrative Committee instituted by the Kano State Government to examine and report on the administration and financial management of Kano Pillars Football Club during the period of the present administration.
Although the precise terms of reference and duration of the Committee’s mandate have not been formally communicated to us, the observations herein are intended to constructively assist the Committee in achieving a comprehensive, objective, and sustainable outcome.
It is evident that there is a discernible and substantial deterioration in the institutional, competitive, and reputational standing of Kano Pillars Football Club within the period under review.
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This troubling decline points to deep-seated systemic and operational failures that can no longer be ignored.
It reflects lapses in planning and overall coordination, all of which appear to have contributed to the team’s current struggles.
Once these shortcomings are properly identified, they must be addressed with urgency and sincerity.
Only through decisive corrective action can the necessary reforms be implemented to reawaken the team from its slumber and restore its competitive spirit and lost glory.
Accordingly, a thorough and objective examination of the club’s administrative architecture, decision-making frameworks, and adherence to established public sector management standards is imperative.
Such a review should go beyond surface-level assessments to uncover structural weaknesses, accountability gaps, and governance deficiencies.
Only through this comprehensive evaluation can meaningful reforms be initiated to strengthen institutional capacity, improve transparency, and reposition the club for sustainable success both on and off the pitch.
From a policy and governance standpoint, the link between sound financial management and sporting performance cannot be overstated.
Ineffective budgeting frameworks, weak internal financial controls, delayed disbursements, and opaque expenditure practices inevitably undermine player welfare, technical readiness, contractual stability, and ultimately on-field results.
These shortcomings erode morale, disrupt preparation, and compromise institutional credibility.
It may therefore be imperative for the Committee to rigorously assess whether financial operations during the period under review adhered to the core principles of prudence, transparency, accountability, and value for public funds, as well as established public sector financial management standards.
In addition, particular attention should be devoted to a comprehensive review of all financial, commercial, sponsorship, and contractual agreements entered into by or on behalf of the club, whether domestic or external.
Such a review should establish the legal foundations of these agreements, their respective durations, approval thresholds, and alignment with applicable government financial regulations, as well as confirm that all requisite authorisations were properly secured prior to execution.
Any agreements concluded without due approval or beyond delegated authority not only undermine institutional controls but may also expose both the club and the state to significant financial liabilities, legal challenges, and reputational risks.
It is respectfully advised that the Committee adopt a holistic approach that links administrative conduct, financial governance, and performance indicators, with a view to identifying root causes rather than symptoms.
The ultimate objective should be the formulation of policy-driven recommendations that strengthen institutional governance, ensure financial discipline, and restore Kano Pillars Football Club to a sustainable and professionally managed public sports institution consistent with its historic status and public ownership.
The Committee should also investigate the rationale behind the administrative reversal that transferred the club from direct oversight under the Office of the Executive Governor, where it submitted its requests and received approvals and funding was forced to now go through the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
This shift in supervisory authority raises important questions about policy consistency, governance clarity, and operational efficiency.
The review should establish when and why this change occurred, who authorised it, and whether due process was followed.
Furthermore, the Committee should assess how this restructuring has affected decision-making timelines, financial disbursements, accountability mechanisms, and the overall performance of the club, with a view to determining whether the move contributed in any way to the team’s recent decline.
The Committee should also recommend the development of a comprehensive working document or Operating Manual for the team, which, remarkably, has not existed since the club’s formation in 1990.
The absence of such a foundational governance framework has contributed significantly to the current institutional confusion and operational inconsistencies.
An Operating Manual would clearly define roles, responsibilities, reporting lines, financial procedures, disciplinary measures, and performance benchmarks. Its introduction is essential to restoring order, professionalism, and accountability within the club and represents one of the most practical pathways out of the present crisis confronting the team.
It may be recalled that last week, the Office of the Secretary to the Kano State Government (KNSG) constituted a special committee to probe the recent poor performances of Kano Pillars Football Club in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).
The committee was mandated to thoroughly examine the administrative, technical, and financial operations of the club, identify the underlying causes of its decline, and make practical recommendations aimed at restoring stability, accountability, and competitive excellence.
