The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has explained that the $500,000 fund the body is set to receive from FIFA is not a COVID-19 palliative to the country.
While responding to speculations that the sum from the world football governing body is to cushion the effect of the pandemic, the President of the organization, Amaju Pinnick, said the money is for the running of football in Nigeria.
In a series of tweets on his official Twitter handle, Pinnick explained that contrary to rumours making the rounds, the money is the yearly statutory allocation from FIFA to every member federation.
According to the NFF chief, “these funds come with statutory specific areas of obligations. In other words; if FIFA gives you money for youth development, you cannot use that money for anything else.”
He added that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, FIFA, however, gave out the money earlier than usual as member-nations will normally meet certain conditions before the release of the fund.
“But these are difficult times and the normally stringent processes have been partially relaxed to enable football federations struggling, to meet up their financial obligations,” the former Delta FA boss stated.
“Therefore the release of these funds is to enable football federations around the world continue their operational obligations to staff and other third parties. Even though these funds are going to be released early, all federations will still be required to follow the rules of spending them.
“FIFA hasn’t waived those rules. If a federation gets its allocation, it is expected to spend them on agreed parameters. FIFA’s vigorous auditing processes will still be in effect.”
Furthermore, he assured that the football body will do its part in helping to cushion the effect of the disease on the country’s football, restating that, “these funds aren’t relief funds. There are simply statutory allocations that come with strict guidelines on usage.”
Good morning.
As part of our efforts to remain transparent with financial dealings and because I have seen a few enquiries about FIFA's release of funds to member associations, I feel it's my duty to update on how things stand. Every year, there are statutory allocations 1/
— Amaju Melvin Pinnick (@PinnickAmaju) May 5, 2020
That federations receive from FIFA, for the smooth running of football in different federations. However, these funds come with statutory specific areas of obligations. In other words; if FIFA gives you money for youth development, you cannot use that money for anything else./2
— Amaju Melvin Pinnick (@PinnickAmaju) May 5, 2020
What FIFA has done now, though, is to release funds that were meant to be released later in the year, earlier. This is part of FIFA's plans to help ameliorate hardships that this novel coronavirus has and will cause. It is not a palliative, as some have speculated. /3
— Amaju Melvin Pinnick (@PinnickAmaju) May 5, 2020
It simply means the different federations are, in a manner of speaking, getting July's allowances in May. Why? Because world football governing body recognises how much the economic & football landscape has changed and is making concerted efforts to mitigate the effects. /4
— Amaju Melvin Pinnick (@PinnickAmaju) May 5, 2020
Under normal circumstances, federations would have received these monies only after stringent financial regulations had been met. But these are difficult times and the normally stringent processes have been partially relaxed to enable football federations struggling, to…/5
— Amaju Melvin Pinnick (@PinnickAmaju) May 5, 2020
Under normal circumstances, federations would have received these monies only after stringent financial regulations had been met. But these are difficult times and the normally stringent processes have been partially relaxed to enable football federations struggling, to…/5
— Amaju Melvin Pinnick (@PinnickAmaju) May 5, 2020
