Despite what many Nigerians
consider very poor
performance by the Nigeria
Football Federation, NFF,
under Amaju Pinnick, the
latter has been nominated for
an African position.
The General Assembly of the
NFF on Sunday in Lagos
endorsed the candidature of
Mr. Pinnick for election into
the CAF Executive Committee.
The 72nd Annual General
Assembly of the NFF held at
the Best Western Hotel,
Victoria Island, Lagos, on
Sunday.
According to a communiqué
released by Ademola Olajire,
the NFF spokesman, “the
Congress passed a Vote of
Confidence on the NFF
Executive Committee.
“It also endorsed the
candidature of NFF President,
Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick for
election into the CAF
Executive Committee at the
CAF Congress in Addis Ababa
in March 2017.
“Congress called on all
Nigerians to give him total
support as it is not an NFF
venture, but a Nigerian
Project,” it said.
Mr. Pinnick and the NFF
leadership have been
criticised for their
management of Nigerian
football which worsened last
week with the protest by the
Super Falcons.
The Nigerian female national
team emerged African
champions in Cameroon
despite not being paid their
allowances.
Their protest last Wednesday to the
National Assembly forced President
Buhari to order release of funds to pay
the ladies.
In their communique on Sunday, the
NFF Congress commended President
Muhammadu Buhari and the Federal
Government for the action taken to pay
the players and officials of the Super
Falcons their entitlements.
The Super Falcons were crowned
champions of the 10th Women Africa
Cup of Nations Finals in Cameroon.
The Communique also noted that the
General Assembly endorsed the new
boards of the Nigeria National League
(NNL) and the Nigeria Nationwide
League (NNWL) as constituted by a
Selection Committee.
It said the boards of the two leagues
were immediately sworn in.
It said the Congress also resolved as
follows:
“In order for Nigeria Football to align
itself with the FIFA Integrity Initiative,
Congress adopted the NFF National
Integrity Initiative Strategy, as proposed
by the NFF Integrity Unit.
“General Assembly also adopted the
Disciplinary and Ethics Code of the
Nigeria Football Federation as proposed
by the Executive Committee.”
The Congress expressed satisfaction with
the explanation provided by the
Executive Committee on a number of
issues raised by the Minister of Youth
and Sports, Solomon Dalung at the
opening ceremony.
It noted that the issues were on division
within the Board, FIFA Audit Query and
late submission of memos.
It submitted that the minister was
misinformed about the activities of the
Board.
“Congress noted the submission of the
Executive Committee stating that at no
time previously (official or unofficially)
did the Minister raise these issues with
the NFF leadership to obtain
clarification.
It added that the Federation would have
gladly provided clarifications just as it
did to the House Committee on Sports
during a recent sitting on its budget
performance and budget proposal.
“Indeed, the audited account of the
Federation for the year, as audited by
PricewaterhouseCoopers, an
internationally reputable audit firm, was
presented and adopted at the General
Assembly.
“General Assembly empowered the NFF
Executive Committee to provide detailed
explanation to the Office of the
Honourable Minister on all the issues
raised.
“It also empowered it to publish them as
a matter of public records, for the
avoidance of doubt and for information
of the general public, NFF partners and
sponsors,” it said.
The Communique said that the
Chairman, House Committee on Sports
praised the leadership of the NFF for
various achievements recorded during
the period.
He also urged them to remain focused to
ensure Super Eagles qualification for
2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
The Congress expressed appreciation to
the Lagos State Government and the
Local Organising Committee for the
successful hosting of the Beach Soccer
Africa Cup of Nations staged by Nigeria
from December 13 – 18.
The body also
0 Comments