2018 World Cup fund retirement; how NFF shot itself on the foot

2018 World Cup fund retirement; how NFF shot itself on the foot

By Niyi Busari

Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, in a one-page document made available to www.bsnsports.com.ng had explained how the N1.6 billion world cup funds was spent before, during and after Nigeria exit from the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

The explanation of how the monies were spent and a breakdown of expenditure, raised some pertinent questions.

It will be recalled that, the world football governing body, FIFA, before the Mundial gave all 32 participating football federations the sum of $2million each. The Confederation of African Football, CAF also gave the NFF $500,000 for the team's preparation ahead of the mundial.

A very reliable source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, revealed to BSNSports.com.ng that the Rivers State government bankrolled the payment of the chartered flight of the Congo DR national team for their pre-world cup warm match against the Super Eagles of Nigeria played in Port Harcourt.

The same source also said, the Rivers state government gave the NFF $250,000 and another N100 million to cover appearance fees and match allowances for the Congo DR friendly match.

Now, here is a breakdown of how the NFF claimed they spent the N1.6 billion;

1) Daily Allowances for players/officials $126,771

2) Appearance fees for three friendly match $327,000

3) Daily Allowances for the competition proper $142,000

4) Return tickets for players $246,000

5) Estacode for the delegation including advance party $613,858

6) Local transportation of delegates $150,000

7) Hotel accommodation $200,000

8) Team and delegation Insurance $286,000

9) Match ticket & others $150,000

10) Winning bonus for players and officials $1,392,000

11) Return tickets for players from Russia $187,600

12) Borrowed for U20 women team (to be returned) $168,500

13) Borrowed for U20 women team (to be returned) $68,000

14) Borrowed for Seychelles match (to be returned) $158,000

15) Borrowed for U17 to Niger (to be returned) $54,615

16) Others $300,000

Total 4,470,844

4,470,844 × 307 = 1,372,996,192.40

Money left in the coffers (spent by Amb. Giwa board) N140m

Total = N1.512,996

Since FIFA and CAF gave the NFF a combined sun of $2.5million, it is rather unimaginable and unthinkable that the football house can still claim in their hurriedly put together retirement, that they spent money on the same event that FIFA has done justice to.

Another source also revealed to www.Bsnsports.com.ng that all three friendly matches played before the world cup were sponsored by Rivers state government, and football match agents (Irob and Young)

If that be the case, it will therefore amount to double standard by the federation to list the friendly games among their pre world cup 2018 expeditures.

By this singular act, the NFF has breached the civil service rule by not firstly, retiring the money and then seek approval which can only be given by the National Assembly.

 This offense in federal civil service parlance is called viament 

Sadly, despite knowing this, they went ahead and spent funds without retirement and approval.

Secondly, funds were raised by state governments, companies, government parastatals as well individuals. Therefore, NFF should tell Nigerians how much they got from these bodies.

Also, how much did these companies raise as Sponsorship Funds for the NFF before the world cup;

1] Aiteo Group
2] Peak Milk
3] Payporte
4] Big Bull
5] 1xbet
6] Simba
7] Wapic Insurance
8] Coca cola
9] Tom-tom
10] Nigeria Breweries
11] Emax
12] Zenith bank
13] Nike

There were also Contributions received by the NFF from State Governments, individuals and government parastatals

The NFF should tell Nigerians how much they collected from the following:

1] Lagos state government
2] Delta state
3] Abia state
4] Rivers
5] Akwa Ibom
6] Plateau state
7] NDDC
8] Bukola Saraki
9] FIRS
10] CBN
11] FGN

3] The NFF claimed that the N1.6 billion was released during the World Cup, if this is true, then how come the three pre-world cup friendlies expenses were included?

4) It is obvious the NFF goofed to have written borrowed as written in No.12,13, 14 and 15 above, when they did not retire the funds in the first place.

5) When retiring funds, there is nothing like others as it is, in No. 10 and No. 16 above. In this situation every penny should be clearly speltout and not 'others' as stated above.

NFF should explain what 'others' mean and what the $300,000 captured under the heading, OTHERS was used for.

In a competition like the FIFA World cup, FIFA is responsible for the accommodation, transportation, feeding and flight tickets of players and officials from all the 32 participating countries including Nigeria.

So, hotel accommodation as listed in (No. 8 above), and transportation in (No. 7) should have been excluded from the list.

It is a well documented fact, that, in states where National teams games are played, the state governments often times, bankroll the cost of hosting such games. Therefore, one wonder, why the Super Eagles African Nations Cup qualifiers with Seychelles should be on this list as captured in ( No 14 above).

It is also on record that players and officials of the Nigeria U20 Women national team i.e the Falconets are still being owed backlogs of their world cup qualifiers match bonuses. So, can the NFF explain better what the money in No. 12 and 13 above were spent on?