By Saheed Afolabi
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Ibrahim Gusau has revealed how the football authorities erased frivolous spendings and live within their resources.
The NFF boss said the change started with him as he cut down on unnecessary expenditure so that the resources of the Glass House could be managed properly.
Gusau narrated how he reduced his frequent traveling to see the national team on official assignment and attributed his presence at the FIFA Women’s World Cup on the invite of the World Football governing body which the NFF wasn’t responsible for the logistics at the mundial.
“What we are trying to do, is to manage the resources in the NFF. I had to cut off all unnecessary expenditures, including the ones that had to do with myself,” Gusau was quoted by Totori News.
“I tried to use myself as an example. Flying Eagles were at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina, I was not there. The Super Falcons represented Africa at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia, I was not there when the team was in the tournament. I only went to Australia on the invitation of FIFA for the final game. I did not spend a dime from the NFF.
“So, we tried to reduce a lot of expenditures that we feel are not necessary and face the reality of what we need to do with the little resources at our disposal.
“The national teams are our priorities based on the little resources we have.”
The former Zamfara FA chairman admitted that Nigeria is the busiest football federation in Africa and the areas that requires adequate funding are given priorities which provides no room for wasteful spendings.
“We are the busiest Federation in Africa, if not in the world. A lot of these Federations in Africa only rely on the financial support from FIFA for their football activities and many only participate at the qualifiers.
“And most times, they crash out after playing two matches and they look forward to another football calender year. Nigeria is far different and expectations are high.
“Basically, i try as much as possible to reduce a lot of expenditures in order for us to concentrate on the core mandate of what we are supposed to do with the little resources in the NFF.”
Before leaving office as NFF President, Amaju Pinnick confessed that a huge debt of over a billion naira will be inherited by the coming President as he cited hotel fees, players allowances and other logistics that took the huge chunk of the debt.
Gusau was elected NFF President last year at the AGA meeting in Benin.
