The Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development on Monday announced that it has placed an indefinite suspension on the elective congress of the Nigeria Basketball Federation scheduled for Saturday.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr Ismaila Abubakar.

Abubakar noted that the decision to suspend the elective congress became necessary to avert further deterioration of the leadership crisis that have engulfed the federation.

“Having reviewed the crisis around the NBBF and in consideration of the several attempts by the supervising Ministry to resolve the lingering crisis and factionalisation in the basketball family, the FMYSD hereby directs an indefinite suspension of the NBBF Elective Congress.

“All concerned stakeholders are expected to take note and comply,” the statement said.

It added that the decision became necessary to avert further deterioration of the leadership crisis and was geared towards finding a workable solution to the current disagreements within the Federation.

“The rancour-free development of basketball in Nigeria is of utmost importance,” the Ministry stated further.

It however noted that recent elections into the NBBF Board from the various constituencies.

“Those elected therefore remain Members-Elect,” it added.

NAN reports that the build-up to the polls had been rocked by crisis, with protests by players calling for the resignation of Kida.

No fewer than 100 Nigerian basketball players led by the newly-elected players’ representative, Stanley Gumut, on October 15th in Abuja staged a protest at the Unity Fountain.

The aggrieved players had voiced their resentment at what they termed the mishandling of basketball administration in the last four years.

”Plans by some individuals to perpetuate themselves in office against the wish of the majority are unacceptable,” they had said.

Gumut insisted that the players ought to have a say like the other recognised bodies, adding that they (the players) had endured enough of the marginalisation.

He added that they also wanted the outgoing Musa Kida-led leadership to steer clear of the elections.

Similarly, 2021 Afrobasket women champions, D’Tigress, also staged a protest over their unpaid wages and allowances.

They expressed grievances over what they described as unfair treatment meted out to them by the Nigerian government and the NBBF.

The basketballers said this was more prevalent after their victory at the 2021 FIBA Afrobasket Women’s Championship in Cameroon.

Some members of the team, who took to social media platform Twitter, said their efforts in winning the championship for a fifth time were never appreciated.

(NAN)