FG releases N472 million for payment of Super Falcons, Eagles
The Office of the Accountant General of the Federation has released the mandate to Central Bank of Nigeria for payment of naira equivalent of $1,173,820.00 at N305 per dollar to Nigeria Football Federation to pay outstanding winning bonuses for Super Eagles in the 2018 World Cup qualifying matches and for the Super Falcons’ participation in the 10th Women’s Africa nations Cup.
This is in furtherance of the approval from Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, for the said amount to be paid.
The mandate, which is a sum of N358 million, was paid by Central Bank of Nigeria on Thursday, a statement signed Kenechukwu N, on behalf of the Accountant General, said.
Similarly, another mandate for N113.8 million has also been released by Office of Accountant General of the Federation for the payment of wining bonus for Super Eagles in the 2018 World Cup qualifying matches; and for the Super Falcon’s participation in the 10th Women’s Africa Nation’s Cup.
This amount has also been paid to Nigeria Football Federation and is equally sequel to the approval of the minister of finance.
Super Falcons had on Wednesday staged a peaceful protest to the National Assembly (NASS) and the Presidential Villa over unpaid allowances.
The placard-carrying ladies’, whose protest came on the heels of President Muhammadu Buhari’s presentation of the 2017 budget, refused to grant press interviews.
On the placards displayed for passersby, including members of NASS and the executive arm, they urged Buhari to ensure the monies due to them were paid promptly.
They described their neglect as pathetic and embarrassing in spite of their sacrifice to the nation, noting that they were about to be ejected from their hotel.
They said it was necessary the president waded into the matter so that smiles could return to their faces and for upcoming footballers not discouraged from doing the nation proud.
Some of the inscriptions read: “We are begging, please pay us our money’’ and “We have made the nation proud, we deserve to be treated fairly’’.
Others are “NASS intervene in our matter please’’ and “Help tell the sports minister to pay us our allowances’’.