The Home of Representatives has resolved to research the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) over alleged misappropriation of hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in improvement and sponsorship funds obtained from the Fédération Internationale de Soccer Affiliation (FIFA) and the Confederation of African Soccer (CAF) between 2015 and 2025.
This adopted a movement of pressing public significance raised by Adedayo Adeshola (APC, Lagos) throughout Tuesday’s plenary, presided over by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen.
The movement referred to as for the Committee on Sports activities to scrutinise the monetary actions and challenge implementation data of the soccer governing physique over the previous decade.
Questionable dealing with of FIFA grants
Mr Adeshola, in his presentation, recalled a number of monetary controversies which have trailed the NFF through the years.
He cited the dealing with of $1 million FIFA assist funds launched to the Federation to organize the Tremendous Eagles for the 2002 World Cup, alleging that the cash was not correctly accounted for.
He additional famous that between 2015 and 2025, the NFF obtained over $25 million in developmental grants from each FIFA and CAF with little or no tangible outcomes to justify the massive inflows.
“In December 2016, FIFA despatched an audit question to NFF, over the misappropriation of the $1.1 improvement grant to NFF, and it was reported that $802,000 {dollars} lacked correct documentation, prompting the previous sports activities minister, Solomon Dalung, to order an impartial audit and ask NFF to account for the disbursements,” Mr Adeshola stated.
Unfinished stadium initiatives, poor amenities
The lawmaker referenced a current trending report on social media alleging that the NFF spent $1.2 million to assemble a stadium in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi state, which, upon inspection, was discovered to be substandard and never compliant with worldwide requirements.
Mr Adeshola added that regardless of repeated audits, probes, and even investigations by the EFCC and ICPC into NFF’s monetary operations, there was little accountability or reform.
Name for contemporary investigation
The Lagos lawmaker urged the Home to behave decisively to forestall additional mismanagement, particularly with the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and World Cup playoffs approaching.
He stated, “With one other African Cup of Nations across the nook and the World Cup playoffs ready within the wings involving our nationwide staff, the Tremendous Eagles of Nigeria, there’s a have to take decisive motion to cease additional misuse of public funds by the management of NFF.
Mr Adeshola urged for the creation of a particular advert hoc investigative audit committee, slightly than assigning the probe to the present Home Committee on Sports activities, citing public considerations over the committee’s perceived inefficiency.
Debate
Earlier than placing the movement to a vote, Speaker Abbas Tajudeen questioned whether or not a brand new advert hoc committee was vital when a standing committee already oversees sports activities issues.
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Responding, Mr Adeshola maintained that “the sentiment on the streets and on social media” reveals a insecurity within the current committee’s capacity to conduct an neutral probe.
Nonetheless, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu opposed the decision for a brand new committee, arguing that doing so would undermine the mandate and morale of the present Home Committee on Sports activities.
“We should be cautious to not weaken our standing committees by regularly creating advert hoc ones for points that already fall inside their purview. The Sports activities Committee underneath its new management has proven vitality, diligence, and outcomes,” Mr Kalu stated.
He, subsequently, moved an modification that the investigation be referred to the present Home Committee on Sports activities as a substitute of a brand new advert hoc physique, a place that was later adopted by the Home.
Decision
After deliberation, the Home resolved to mandate the Committee on Sports activities to research all funds obtained by the NFF from FIFA, CAF, and different sources from 2015 so far.
It additionally resolved to ask the NFF management, previous and current, to look earlier than the committee with data of funds obtained, disbursed, and initiatives executed.
The committee can be anticipated to advocate measures to boost transparency, accountability, and restore public confidence within the NFF’s administration of soccer affairs.
