New nickel complexes containing novel tetradentate ligands, 4,5-substituted-1,2-bis(pyridine-2-carboxamide)-benzene ligands but lacking alkyl or halide ligands in the coordination sphere have been prepared. They were activated with MMAO (modified methylaluminoxane) to be proven as efficient catalysts for the polymerization of norbornene. Both electron-donating and -withdrawing substituents on the benzene ring and polar solvents enhance the catalytic activity for olefin polymerization. Improvement in thermal stability of the complexes was observed. Some of these complexes were crystallographically determined to have square planar geometry. A plausible mechanism involving dissociation of ligands is proposed.