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| Falcons and Trophy |
The Federal Government yesterday declared that it had premonitions that the female national team, the Super Falcons, will not win the 2016 Africa Women Nations Cup hence it failed to work out the funds for the team’s bonuses and other allowances.
Minister for Information, Alhaji Lai Muhammed, on Wednesday shocked Nigerians when he said the government had no money to offset the outstanding emoluments owed the ladies, who recently won the African Women Nation’s Cup trophy by defeating their Cameroun in the final.
The minister told State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council meeting (FEC) that government was yet to settle the footballers’ dues because of the current economic recession.
Dalung reinforced Mohammed’s explanation on the development, adding, “when the girls came back from Cameroun we had launch with them and they were in high spirits. The communication gap in trying to convey the situation to them could have been what led to it. If the situation was explained to these girls, I don’t think the situation would have gotten to this level. We are working round to clock to ensure that what belongs to them legitimately is given to them.”
He blamed the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for the current situation, saying, “This has to do with government process. One thing I always make clear is that the process of request for funds for sporting projects must come earlier to meet the objectives.”
He pledged that government would carry out a ‘surgery’ on the sports sector to avert a reoccurrence in the future.
“It is unfortunate that we are celebrating victory of the Super Falcons amidst some bitter feelings among the players because of some administrative lapses that were not managed properly.
“One thing I always make clear is that the process of request for funds for sporting projects must come earlier to meet the objectives. Don’t forget that nobody even knew the team would emerge victorious, if we were confident they would emerge victorious, all the Federation would have done is to plan for process of participation and entitlement.
Minister for Information, Alhaji Lai Muhammed, on Wednesday shocked Nigerians when he said the government had no money to offset the outstanding emoluments owed the ladies, who recently won the African Women Nation’s Cup trophy by defeating their Cameroun in the final.
The minister told State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council meeting (FEC) that government was yet to settle the footballers’ dues because of the current economic recession.
Dalung reinforced Mohammed’s explanation on the development, adding, “when the girls came back from Cameroun we had launch with them and they were in high spirits. The communication gap in trying to convey the situation to them could have been what led to it. If the situation was explained to these girls, I don’t think the situation would have gotten to this level. We are working round to clock to ensure that what belongs to them legitimately is given to them.”
He blamed the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for the current situation, saying, “This has to do with government process. One thing I always make clear is that the process of request for funds for sporting projects must come earlier to meet the objectives.”
He pledged that government would carry out a ‘surgery’ on the sports sector to avert a reoccurrence in the future.
“It is unfortunate that we are celebrating victory of the Super Falcons amidst some bitter feelings among the players because of some administrative lapses that were not managed properly.
“One thing I always make clear is that the process of request for funds for sporting projects must come earlier to meet the objectives. Don’t forget that nobody even knew the team would emerge victorious, if we were confident they would emerge victorious, all the Federation would have done is to plan for process of participation and entitlement.