By Gracious Akujobi
The Ministerial Panel that investigated the Super Eagles’ bonus row has indicted the Nigeria Football Federation NFF and Chief Coach of the Super Eagles, Stephen Keshi over the recent bonus row in Namibia that caused embarrassment to the federal government.
Submitting the panel’s report to the Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi, in Abuja, the panel chairman, Olusegun Adeniyi, stated that bonus payment has over the years been mismanaged by all parties involved, resulting in avoidable crises.
The former Media Adviser to the late President Musa Yar’dua, noted that mutual mistrust by all parties concerned; indiscipline on the part of players; and lack of leadership by those in charge of the affairs at the material time cause the problem of bonus row in Namibia, which delayed the team in getting to Brazil at the scheduled time for the Confederations cup.
Continuing he said “the football administration was also tardy in the manner in which it handled communication on the bonus issue by not formally conveying its decision to players ahead of the tournament.”
“It is therefore our hope that the outcome of this panel will help as we seek to bring transparency and accountability to the beautiful game even as we instill discipline in its Management.”
In his response, the Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdulahi, thanked members of the panel for their selflessness in discharging their duty, promising that Federal Government and Nigeria Football Administrators would make use of full recommendations of the reports for the growth and development of Nigerian football.
Other members of the Panel that was set up on July 11 are Shehu Dikko, Akin Osuntokun, Abdulkadril Nasir, Onochie Anibeze, Garbal Lawal and Aisha Falode.
