- Safiu Kehinde
The National Sports Commission (NSC) has denied withholding the Super Falcons Match bonuses, stressing that all the bonuses have been paid.
This is coming in reaction to Rasheedat Ajibade’s claim that the Nigerian women’s national team is yet to be paid their renumeration.
NPO Reported that Super Falcons captain had in a recent interview with popular Nigerian TV personality, Chude Jidenowo, disclosed that the team is yet to be paid their renumeration, including the $100,000 gifted to each players over their successful 2024 Women’s African Cup of Nations (WAFCON) campaign.
Reacting to the Super Falcons captain’s claim, the NSC Director-General, Bukola Olopade, in an interview on Arise TV’s Morning Show on Friday, clarified that the players’ match bonuses have been paid.
Olopade further disclosed that Ajibade had in a chat with the commission’s Chairman, Sheu Dikko, confirmed the payment of the bonuses.
“I have spoken with Ajibade directly. I have in my phone messages between Ajibade and Mallam Sheu Dikko, the Chairman of the Sports Commission, where she vehemently denied ever saying their bonuses have not been paid.
“I know authoritatively that all their bonuses have been paid. And I can confirm from the NFF and I’ve confirmed from Ajibade. Apart from maybe one or two whose account had issues with the CBN, all of their money have been paid in terms of bonuses.
“To now say that Ajibade said they’ve not been paid, I don’t think it’s true and we should not put the young woman in the predicaments of denying or saying she said what she didn’t say when in the real sense, the money is in their account.” He said.
On the President’s $100,000 promise to the player, the NSC DG charged Nigerians to desist from politicising everything in the country.
He assured that the money will be paid to the players, adding that effort is also ongoing with the Ministry of Housing for the allocation of the apartment promised to the players and the technical crew by Tinubu.
“We need to stop playing politics and games with everything. Even my own daughter, when make promises to her, she needs to wait two, three weeks for me to go through the system and orchestrate the payment and the payment will get to her. It will be paid.
“As of two days ago, Mallam Sheu Dikko is still talking to the Minister for Housing and I sat down wit the gentleman who is in charge of the Renewed Hope home. Work has already started on how they will get their apartments.
“We are in a government that fulfil promises. But even from the point of view of the Sports Commission, a whole lot of things have changed. When we tell athletes A will be given, they will get A.
“We don’t play games with their renumeration. We don’t play games with them going for competition. We are quick to say this is what we can do. Go out and make the country proud.” He said.