The executive committee of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has resolved to follow advice from world soccer governing authority, FIFA in the disbursement of a grant of $500,000 from the global body, even as controversy continues spreading over what the money s meant for, megasportsarena.com reports.
While independent observers believe it is a palliative grant to support clubs and players during the ongoing coronavirus virus hiatus, top shots at The Football House n Abuja have countered by declaring that it is just normal disbursement from FIFA to all national associations, hence their decision not to spread t round as expected by many analysts and fans.
NFF president, Melvin Amaju Pinnick stressed that the money was meant to be palliative to various sectors of the Nigerian football community and, in tandem with that line of reasoning, the executive committee rose from its meeting on Thursday with their specific interpretation of the fund and how it will be disbursed.
The suggested areas of expenditure for the money will now be basically for staff salaries, men and women leagues, referees’ development training, various national teams, office operations, renovations and furnishing of Bauchi NFF/FIFA Technical Centre.
This is contained in a communiqué issued after the meeting, which held via video conferencing, as the top shots of Nigerian football put heads together to deliberate on important issues that are currently affecting the round leather game n the country.
The communiqué stated in part: “The Executive Committee once more, commended the proactive and comprehensive policies, strategies and measures instituted by the Federal Government to definitively tackle the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) that has left pain and sorrow in most nations of the world in the past couple of months.
“Members equally praised the Federal Ministry of Health, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, all first responders and all other public health workers in the frontline for their efforts in reducing community transmission and saving lives.
“The Board acknowledged the advice of world football –governing body, FIFA on how the $500,000 (Five Hundred Thousand American Dollars) relief fund sent to the NFF (as also provided for other Member Associations of FIFA), among other FIFA monies available to the NFF, should be spent. Board directed the Secretariat to immediately set machinery in motion to ensure the fund is utilized to the letter as advised by FIFA.
“The core areas approved for the utilization in line with the FIFA Forward 2.0 Program include but not limited to Management and Staff salaries, men’s league, women’s league, referees’ development training, National Teams (including boys and girls’ youth teams), office operations, renovations and furnishing of Bauchi NFF/FIFA Technical Centre.
“Still on COVID-19-related measures and palliatives, the Board praised its Members as well as Management and Secretariat staff who were involved in the distribution of palliatives (in the form of food items) to Clubs and communities in Abuja.
“And the distribution of protective overalls, face masks, latex hand gloves and sanitizers in Lagos and Kano States, and the Federal Capital Territory. Members reiterated that it was a commendable move by the Federation to support the efforts of the Federal Government in combating the COVID-19 menace.
“The Committee received briefings from NFF external auditors, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) – who were part of the meeting for over an hour – on the concluded NFF audit and approved for immediate implementation, new strategies and methods to strengthen governance, accounting controls and financial reporting of the Federation.
“The new methods and measures are meant to ensure even greater conformity with governance and accounting principles and formats of modern corporations and business entities, with periodic assessment of functionality.”
