FIFA money: NFF gets 7-day ultimatum from house of reps

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has been given a seven-day ultimatum by house of representatives and threatened it with zero allocations in 2015 budget except the football house can give details on how it used grants received from FIFA and CAF in 2014. 

The chairman of the committee, Godfrey Ali Gaiya gave the ultimatum on Tuesday during the defence of the 2015 budget proposal.

“The NFF report for 2014 is not complete; what they brought is strictly funds they received from the government but the power of the committee translates beyond just monies from government,” he said.

“Any agency of government must give us full disclosure of all monies collected within the year in review and, for 2014, we know there were so many other sources of revenue to NFF not disclosed.

“For example, they didn’t tell us what they collected from FIFA. We participated in the 2014 World Cup and they never showed us whether they collected a kobo from FIFA.

“If they collected, they should have shown to us the collection and utilisation. In addition, we know they have sponsors like Adidas that provide kits for the national teams and it comes with some financial commitment.

“We also know that they have deals with Guinness and other sundry agencies and corporate bodies.”

He insisted that the committee would not look into the 2015 appropriation submitted by NFF until the federation furnished it with details of all funds that accrued to it last year.

“Musa Amadu is in a position to know that all funds from FIFA and CAF ought to be part of what is submitted to Parliament.

“Going by what you have presented, one can see that you have just presented expenditure profile of funds you received from the federal government, but it goes beyond that.

“We are giving you seven days to come with details of such grants and funds including dollar components, which you received from your affiliates and sponsors.”

TheCable had made enquiries about the World Cup participation money that the NFF received from FIFA, but Musa Amadu, NFF secretary-general, and Mr. Alos of the FIFA media centre, were unwilling to speak about it.

Meanwhile, the house of representatives has volunteered to help the NFF to dump Stephen Keshi as Super Eagles coach.

“I have heard sweeping comments from your president and the man you say you intend to employ, Keshi, and both men have men on each other’s neck. I have tapes of their comments and this is very shameful,” Gaiya said.

“I have it on good authority what you the NFF want, but it seems you don’t have the guts to tell Keshi.

“We have seen the pains that Nigerians have gone through in the last days of Keshi on the job. Is it that you want us to continue in prayers when the Super Eagles file out for any game?

“Recently we have resorted to praying for Keshi to get another job so that you the NFF can be bold to take a decision.

“If you people don’t have the boldness to tell Keshi to go, we are ready to help you. We will call a meeting both you the NFF and Keshi and tell Keshi that he should go.”

On Wednesday, the NFF will meet with Keshi over the contract offered him.