President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Amaju Pinnick is determined to resolve financial challenges at home ahead of his personal bid to occupy a seat in the FIFA council.
Pinnick is one of the candidates for African seats on the FIFA Council.
Head of the financially stricken NFF, which receives direct funding from the government, Pinnick is keen to resolve the pay issue dating back to the continental showpiece event in Egypt back in 2019.
“The quest for a Fifa council seat is in the interest of the continent and as the head of Nigerian football I must ensure all is well at home, too,” he told BBC Sport Africa.
“It’s a kind of government responsibility to pay the players and the [Nigerian] president is very keen on helping to sort it.
“I was in Abuja and I found out it’s only a matter of the modalities delaying paying the allowances and bonuses, any moment from now it will be sorted out.”
The national team players have been waiting 19 months for their unpaid bonuses and allowances, while coach Gernot Rohr is being owed five months salary and goalkeeper trainer Alloy Agu demanding over 22-months of unpaid wages.
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Pinnick, who had previously promised to resolve this issue, acknowledged the debt to players and coaching staff, and has decided to put the welfare of his employees and players before personal ambition.
“With the pandemic and challenges facing oil companies, things have been tough for our sponsors Aiteo, who are responsible for the payment of coaches,” he added.
“But we’ve moved to pay Alloy [Agu] nine months of his wages from what we have left and coach Gernot too will be sorted. We don’t want to owe and that is the mentality in which I came into the NFF.
“There are circumstances beyond our control. It is not a good thing to owe and we don’t like the image it creates.
“We are looking at every means not to owe. The toxic atmosphere has really affected our sponsorship drive but we can’t give excuses.
“We are working religiously and assiduously to resolve this as soon as possible.”
The poor financial position of the NFF has already forced the country to cut their backroom staff and slashed the salaries and allowances of the various national team coaches, excluding Super Eagles manager Rohr.
3 Comments
Continue to try your best for yourself and Nigeria. Nigeria was lucky to have you at the time you came in rather then let Giwa and his cohorts run things in those days. Admittedly, there were some missteps along the way but, you Amaju Pinnick, have placed NFF in a good footing other than any of the predecessors that have run the football Federation in Nigeria history. My opinion only.
Good talk @edoman
“…..The national team players have been waiting 19 months for their unpaid bonuses and allowances, while coach Gernot Rohr is being owed five months salary and goalkeeper trainer Alloy Agu demanding over 22-months of unpaid wages……”
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We are waiting for the progressive regressives to come and tell us Rohr has never be owed even for a day when next they want to push their usual lies of Rohr is treated better than their guadiolas.
Owing the coach for 5-6 months out of 12 months in the year has now become a yearly festival for the NFF now….the players who are the main actors have not received bonuses for ages…If players never receive bonuses, then its 100% certain coaches too have not….yet they want to win the world cup….LMAO…yet Rohr is getting preferential treatment, that’s why things are happening so easy and rosy with our SE….LMAO. Pls when will Oga Sunday Dare make executive pronouncements about this matter now…..abi oga don los in mic….???