Chidi Samuel
In line President Buhari’s directive on Wednesday that all outstanding allowances due the victorious senior female national team ‘The Super Falcons’ be settled immediately, the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation on Friday said it has released to the Central Bank of Nigeria the payment mandate of $1.17m (N358m) to settle the accrued allowances.
Mrs Kene Offie, the Director of information, office of the Accountant General of The Federation while confirming the release of the payment in a statement also disclosed that additional N113m to cover the outstanding winning bonuses for the Super Eagles 2018 World Cup Qualifying matches was equally released.
According to the statement, “The Office of the Accountant General of the Federation has released the mandate to Central Bank of Nigeria for payment of naira equivalent of $1,173,820.00 at N305/$ to Nigeria Football Federation to pay outstanding winning bonuses for Super Eagles in the 2018 World Cup Qualifying Matches and for the Super Falcons’ participation in the 10th Women’s Africa nations Cup.
“This is in furtherance of the approval from Hon Minister of Finance for the said amount to be paid.
“The mandate which is a sum of Three hundred and Fifty-Eight Million, fifteen thousand, One Hundred naira only has been paid by Central bank of Nigeria as at yesterday 15th December, 2016.
“Similarly, another mandate for the sum of One hundred and Thirteen million, Eight Hundred and Twenty thousand, Six Hundred and Two naira only has also been released by the Office of Accountant General of the Federation for the payment of wining bonus for Super Eagles in the 2018 World Cup Qualifying matches; and for the Super Falcon’s participation in the 10th Women’s Africa Nation’s Cup.
“This amount has also been paid to Nigeria Football Federation and is equally sequel to the approval of the Honourable minister of Finance.”
The release of the money is expected to bring to an end weeks of protests in Abuja by the Super Falcons as a result of the inability of the Sports Ministry and the NNF to settle their outstanding bonuses after winning the women edition of the African Cup Of Nations for the 8th time earlier in the month, in Cameroon.