NFF To Revise 2020 Budget, Cut Down On Competitions To Attend

The Executive Committee of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Friday met via video conferencing to deliberate on important issues in Nigerian football, according to a statement from the football body.

The NFF Executive Committee, according to the meeting’s eight-point communique, resolved that the Federation should revise its budget for the year, among other stringent measures.

“The Executive Committee mandated the General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi, to within the next four weeks and armed with the realistic projections derivable from the meetings with the partners/sponsors and equipped with new figures from probable subvention from Government and expected grants from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and world governing body FIFA, submit to the Board a revised budget for the Federation for the year.’’

The communique made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) stated that the revised budget would “form the new working document/financial estimate to be submitted to the NFF Congress for approval at a virtual meeting within the next five weeks’’.

“It will guide the operations of the NFF for the remaining part of the year. Extensive sensitisation and mobilisation of stakeholders in the football family will be done for everyone to understand, align with and ingest the new workplan.’’

The NFF Executive Committee also agreed that the Federation, in line with these new realities, would “prioritise programmes, activities and competitions in which to partake, with the engagement of the senior teams being the fulcrum’’.

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The communique stated that the NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, and Sanusi have been mandated to cut down expenses in the running of the Federation from all areas possible and enforce belt-tightening measures.

“This is to ensure the Federation operates only within the framework of guaranteed revenue.’’

The NFF Executive Committee further set up an ad-hoc committee headed by its President to interface with the Federation’s partners and sponsors in the next weeks.

“This is with a view to appraising, balancing and optimising the relationship each way with a model that will take care of the interest of all parties within the realities on ground.

“We took this decision in deep appreciation of the realities that are bound to unfold after the COVID-19 pandemic and the resumption of football activities, and the various scenarios possible in the circumstances.’’

According to the communique, the NFF Executive Committee also received and endorsed the report of a virtual meeting of the League Management Company (LMC) and the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) clubs.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the LMC/NPFL clubs’ meeting was held on Thursday.

Decisions taken included a commitment to conclude the League season after the COVID-19 and resumption of football activities, and consider the most plausible format for conclusion of the remaining games.

The meeting also agreed to continue to communicate with the clubs and ensure commitment by the clubs to continuous payment of the salaries of their players, coaches and backroom staff under the current circumstances.

They are to arrange testing for all players, coaches and backroom staff (about 1,200 persons in all) before the commencement of matches, with the support of the Federal Ministry of Health and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

Also, they are to await realities thence to determine whether matches will be played with crowds or not immediately after the restart.

Furthermore, they are to give priority to privately-funded clubs for special funds if the LMC secures any exceptional support, and “ensure that the LMC and NPFL continue to cogitate on the best way forward for the game this season and coming seasons.’’

The NFF communique indicated also that Chairmen of the Nigeria National League (NNL), Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) and Nationwide League One (NLO) also presented their projections.

“All the three leagues are prepared to adjust their programmes to align with the six to eight weeks window agreed with at a virtual meeting of the NFF Executive Committee and the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, on April 16.’’

The NFF Executive Committee also mandated its President to meet with the Federation’s Official Optimum Partner, AITEO.

“This is specially to discuss matters involving the AITEO Cup 2020 competition and payment of coaches’ salaries.

“The NFF will create windows for the various stages of the AITEO Cup competition to run its full course in order for Nigeria to register her representatives for next season’s CAF Confederation Cup competition.’’

The NFF then assured that the NFF/Zenith Bank Future Eagles Championship, whose state competitions have already been concluded and some zones having also completed their competitions would run its full course.

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It said this would be immediately after the COVID-19 and resumption of football activities.

The NFF Executive Committee further assessed a report by the General Secretary on the recent visit of the FIFA West Zone B Coordinator to Nigeria in respect of its FIFA Forward Project.

“The Committee approved the commencement of construction of new projects in Delta and Kebbi, renewed attention to the abandoned project in Bauchi and the renovation of the Goal Project inside the Moshood Abiola National Stadium Complex in Abuja, complete with a new pitch and pavillion.’’

NAN reports that the NFF Executive Committee meeting involved Pinnick, the Federation’s two Vice-Presidents, Sanusi and eight other Committee members, with Yusuf Ahmed and Musa Duhu unavailable.