Football
The Nigeria Football
Federation on Friday said it was not averse to the planned audit of its books,
while also providing details of the programs and activities on which the
much-talked-about $801,929 part of a FIFA grant was spent.
NFF President Amaju Pinnick
recalled that at inception of the Board, the concern for fiscal discipline
necessitated its decision to bring in PriceWaterhouseCoopers as its external
auditors and Financial Derivatives as financial consultants.
“These are globally
–renowned firms with reputation to protect, and we did not hesitate to bring
them on board with us. We can also say with every sense of sincerity that they
have each been doing a great job.
“In as much as this is
supposed to be a confidential matter, as it is not a forensic examination as
being touted, we feel a sense of responsibility to provide further details on
the programmes on which the money was spent. Some persons are already claiming
NFF embezzled money; it is unfortunate.
“I don’t think we will
find people who will come forward and tell us that Nigeria did not play
friendly matches against DR Congo and Cameroon in Belgium in October 2015, or
that the Super Eagles did not play Burkina Faso in CHAN qualifying matches in
the same month, or that the Eagles did not play Swaziland home and away in a
preliminary round (November 2015) before qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup
group phase.
“We are not averse to the
planned audit of our accounts; what we do not welcome is the litany of
distractions and dark innuendoes that the whole matter is generating, and its
implications for our preparations for the final phase of qualifying for 2018
FIFA World Cup finals.”
Pinnick said the NFF is
blameless for the use of form T-10 {which is acceptable in government
transactions) and the issue of cash transactions.
“These issues are coming
up because of new reforms and new management procedures being adopted by FIFA.
The form T-10 was the practice all the way before this Board came into office.
And getting some of our players to open bank accounts for online payments has
not been easy.
“Of course, we have taken
all the lessons and advice from this report to heart, and we have now modified
our payment structure.”
Programs on which the
money was spent
. International Friendly
Matches
(Nigeria Vs Cameroon &
Congo in Belgium)
. CHAN Qualifier (Burkina
Faso Vs Nigeria)
. Processing of Visa for
U17 in Ghana
. Computer Appreciation
Course
. Outstanding Hotel Bills
to Serob Legacy Hotel
. Camping And Scouting of
U17 Players
. Additional for Tanzania
Vs Nigeria AFCON Qualifier
In its response on the
issue, FIFA made it clear it was a matter between it and NFF and it would be
resolved in the shortest possible time.
FIFA is fully committed to
supporting the member associations as we continue to improve our processes and
structures. In light of this, FIFA recently introduced new requirements for the
management and administration of development funds allocated to its member associations.
In cases of insufficient information as to the management of those funds FIFA
may suspend the ordinary flow of such funds until a full understanding of the
situation is achieved. FIFA continues to
work and cooperate with the respective member in order to obtain the required
information and, if needed, install the appropriate procedures and controls for
such development funds. FIFA are confident that by working together with the
Nigeria Football Federation, the issues will be resolved.
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