Despite grumbles from some quarters of the ill-treatment meted to the Super Falcons by the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF who despite owing the players and officials still went on to charter a flight to watch the final of the Africa Women’s Nations Cup in Cameroon, the NFF is still engaged in wasteful spending.
According to Vanguard, the leadership of the NFF is going ahead to squander over N50 million to host its Annual General Assembly, AGA this weekend at the Best Western Hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos without the approval of the Board of the Federation.
It was gathered that some Board members are not happy that at a time the NFF is being portrayed in bad light before Nigerians with the disgraceful protests carried out by the Super Falcons over their unpaid allowances, the NFF president, Amaju Pinnick could want to host an AGA.
A source close to the NFF said that “members of the Board are not happy with Pinnick because they feel he is running a one man show. He doesn’t seek approval from members before embarking on programmes.
“The AGA will cost the federation over N50 million. Even if the money is sourced from other avenues, the Board still needs to approve it. Why can’t the federation use that money to pay part of the allowances of the protesting Falcons.”
The source added that “over 100 participants are expected to attend the AGA. This include 37 Chairmen of state Football Associations and the same number of secretaries, chairmen of affiliate bodies like the referees and coaches association, 12 members of the Executive Committee, secretariat staff of the NFF and about 20 other invited guests and stakeholders.”
Meanwhile, Members of the House of Representatives have strongly frowned at the way the Nigerian government treated the victorious female national team, otherwise known as Super Falcons, who recently won the nations’ cup.
The lawmakers strongly slammed the Minister of Youths and Sports, Mr. Solomon Dalong, and the Nigerian Football Federation for failing to pay their match bonuses and allowances.
It is no news that the female national football team won the 10th edition of the African Women championship just concluded in Cameroon and were left uncelebrated and not paid their entitlements.
Following the development, the enraged players invaded the national assembly to protest the refusal of the government to pay them their money.
At its sitting on Thursday, the House condemned Dalong and the NFF, saying that their actions brought shame upon Nigeria.
A former Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Sports, Mrs. Ayo Omidiran, had sponsored a motion on the burning issue.
Omidiran, who is from Osun State, noted that, “For the past two weeks, the space has been filled with the cries of these ladies.
