House Committee On Sports Charges NFF To Clear National Teams’ Outstanding Debts
By Our Correspondent
The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF has been directed to, without delay, clear all national teams’ outstanding match bonuses and entitlements
This was the position of the House of Representatives Committee on Sports after it held a fruitful meeting with the NFF on Thursday at the National Assembly headquarters
The meeting which was held on the instance of the Committee was aimed at restoring peace in Nigeria football with resolutions to get the country’s football back on track reached.
The Committee also charged the NFF to resolve the issues regarding the two affected State Football Associations (Plateau and Nasarawa) where Normalisation Committees were set up.
To this end, the Committee stated that the NFF should respect their statue.
“What we are simply saying following petitions received from the two State FAs is that the Federation should respect and go back to their statute to restore peace and order in Nigeria football,” the Chairman House Committee on Sports, Honourable Ekene Adams said.
Meanwhile, the President of the Federation, Ibrahim Gusau assured the House Committee that all the lingering issues regarding the State FAs elections will be resolved amicably within three weeks and would revert back to the House on the resolution.
The Committee and the Federation agreed to work together and find lasting solution to the recurring unpaid bonuses of all national teams.
When asked about the payment of the Super Falcons players, the Federation said it would be paid as soon as the money is received from FIFA.
As regards Awalu Baba Jara who was suspended following allegation of match fixing, the Federation has assured the House Committee on Sports to give the alleged offender fair hearing before final decision could be taken.
Nigeria football was thrown into global ignominy recently following the intervention of the International Federation of Professional Footballers, FIFPRO calling on the NFF to pay the Super Falcons their World Cup and other outstanding match entitlements.
The statement from FIFPRO which rattled Nigeria football followers and stakeholders, did not go down well with the House Committee on Sports which immediately called for the meeting with NFF with a view to collaborating with the federation in order to avoid such ugly development going forward