NFF owes Keshi seven months’ salary

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) owes Super Eagles manager, Stephen Keshi, and members of his backroom staff seven months’ salaries, NFF President, Aminu Maigari, confirmed over the weekend.

Maigari claimed the delayed payments were due to the financial constraints the football body is facing in recent times.

“It is true that Keshi has not been paid for the past seven months but the hands of the federation are tied over this matter,” he said in a SuperSports report. “It’s not as if we are hoarding this money and have refused to pay him. The NFF is in dire straits as far as financial resources are concerned.

“We have even had to slash the winning bonus of players of the Super Eagles from $10,000 USD to $5,000 USD as a result.”

Maigari said the NFF has taken steps to alleviate Keshi’s financial situation by taking responsibility for his hotel bills and feeding.

“There are several steps taken by the NFF in this regard to make Keshi’s life easier,” he said. “The rent of the hotel in Abuja he lives in is paid by the NFF. His feeding is taken care of by the NFF as well. He has an official car provided by the NFF and we ensure that any expense he needs to meet as he carries out his official duties are met by the NFF.

“Let me also use this medium to inform Nigerians that other staff of the NFF have also not been paid for over a year but they have continued working without complaints because they know the constraints we are facing.”

Others affected by the NFF’s financial constraints include the General Secretary, Barrister Musa Ahmadu; Director of competitions, Mohammed Sanusi; Director technical, Emmanuel Ikpeme, and the Director of finance.

According to Maigari, there are many more

“I am sure a lot of Nigerians do not know that even as the leader of the NFF, I have not received salaries for a single day so people should understand that we are selflessly serving the nation,” Maigari said.

The NFF president, however, insisted that the coaches would be paid their salaries as soon as “things improve.”

Keshi, who took the reins from Samson Siasia in November 2011, led the Nigeria national team to first place at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in South Africa, a feat that eluded Nigeria for 19 years. He is just a match away from qualifying the Super Eagles for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Source: Telegraph