NFF dont have to complain over staggered funds release

NFF won’t complain over staggered funds release

May 22, 2014

President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Aminu Maigari

Nigeria Football Federation officials say they have no complain over the manner the funds for the Brazil 2014 World Cup campaign are being released. The over N1.2bn approved for the tournament is being released in instalment by the government.

An NFF official who spoke with The PUNCH said they had no cause to complain.

He said, “The government has approved our budget and decided to release the funds in instalments. That is the decision of government and I can’t question the wisdom behind that. Our preparations are going on as planned and we have not complained as nobody said the money would not be released. It is just coming in instalments accordingly.”

The Sports Minister Dr. Tammy Danagogo told reporters in Abuja on Tuesday that funds have been released to cover all the Super Eagles camping and friendly matches preceding the World Cup. The Federal Government also released the amount covering the first round games against Iran, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Argentina.

He said, “We have released a good sum to get them to a reasonable level at the World Cup. Government has made releases to cover their camping, all the friendlies and the group stage. Once they cross the group stage, more funds would be released to the team.

“You know in government, monies are released in instalment. The most important thing for government is for the players to excel and do Africa and Nigeria proud.”

In the previous competitions the NFF had always received their cash in bulk even though some economic experts had argued that it did not give room for proper accountability as refunds were not properly made in cases when they dropped out early in the competition.

An aide of the sports minister told our correspondent on Wednesday that it was not the first time that funds were being released in instalments for a major competition.

“They should have adjusted to the system by now because the 2014 African Nations Championship in South Africa followed the same pattern. They got the money stage by stage. It should even spur the team to play well and move to the next round.”

Nigeria finished third in that competition reserved for home-based players.

Nigeria will face Scotland May 28 in their first friendly of those lined up leading to the World Cup. The players are billed to arrive in London on Monday.

The Eagles are drawn in Group F against Argentina, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iran in the first round of Brazil 2014.