Dalung Preaches Unity, Accountability at NFF’s AGM
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has been urged to build bridges and close ranks within the football fraternity to foster unity and good relationship in the football house.
The Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, made the remark at the 72nd General Assembly of the NFF held in Lagos yesterday.
In his opening remark, Dalung congratulated the NFF for the victory of the Super Falcons at the recently concluded Africa Women’s Cup of Nations in Cameroon as well as the successes recorded so far by the Super Eagles in their qualification matches for the 2018 World Cup.
He stated that the Super Falcons’ public protest over their entitlements could have been averted if the federation had effectively managed the situation.
Dalung therefore called for the submission of a comprehensive proposal of programmes of the federation for 2017 to the Ministry by January with all requests for intervention, to make way for scrutiny and effective planning.
The minister also said that his office has been inundated with reports suggesting that the board of the NFF was divided over the issue of Mr Amaju Pinnick’s intention to vie for a seat in the Confederation of African Football (CAF) executive.
“It is a policy of government to support and encourage Nigerians to vie and aspire for positions in international organisations. However, such persons must possess the requisite qualification and the wherewithal to succeed.
“So it was heartwarming when I received a letter from the President of NFF, Mr Amaju Pinnick declaring his interest to vie for a position in CAF. The NFF is hereby directed to avail the ministry with the minutes of the meeting where Mr Pinnick’s nomination for a CAF seat was discussed and approved so as to put the records straight.
“If our quest for a CAF seat is to materialise, then the NFF President will need the support of everybody,” he further noted.
Dalung also spoke on a report he received from the NFF raising queries on FIFA’s audit report of $1.1m FIFA development grant to the federation.
“According to the report, FIFA has withheld all development funds to Nigeria for lack of proper documentation of $802,000 out of the funds released to NFF.