The House of Representatives Committee on Sports, has stepped aside the request of 3 billion naira for the Super Eagles World Cup campaign made by the Minister of Sports Solomon Dalung. Dalung had stated in his budget presentation said that the players would be paid their allowance upfront as a way of encouraging them to go all out to conquer the world in Russia. “The payment of their upfront allowance would commence in March, and we are working towards realising that arrangement,” he said.
The sports minister told the committee that he had approached the presidency for approval of three billion naira (N3billion) for a Presidential Task Force to manage the fund in the execution of the Russia 2018 World Cup, which was not contained in the budget proposal. However, Chairman of the committee, Hon. Goni Bukar Lawan upheld the motion to put on hold the defence of ministry’s briefly prepared budget proposal until the needful details are provided. He said that giving a ‘do or die’ directive to the players would not be in the best interest of the game. “We are not send the players on a war zone.
A member of the committee, Hon. Etu Mbura noted that the 2018 budget proposal did not contain key issues expected, including the Super Eagles’ preparation and participation in the World Cup, maintenance of Abuja National Stadium and other stadiums across the country as well as the National Sports Federations participation in local and international championships. He therefore moved a motion for the ministry’s budget defence to be stepped down until Dalung and his subordinates were able to put their acts together to present a budget proposal that would be of national interest.
The motion was seconded by the Deputy Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Awaji-Inombek Abiante. As a result, Dalung and his subordinates were asked to go back to prepare the 2018 budget proposal that would meet the craving of the sports sector.
