“Keshi has not been paid in 7 months”, NFF President says
staff seven months’ salaries.
Maigari claimed the delayed in payments were due to the financial difficulties the NFF has been having for a while,“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. 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.”
The NFF President also said the body had taken responsibilities of Keshi’s hotel bills and feeding so as to help his financial situation.
“There are several steps taken by the NFF in this regard to make Keshi’s life easier. 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.”
Some staff of the NFF are also affected including the General Secretary, Barrister Musa Ahmadu; Director of competitions, Mohammed Sanusi; Director technical, Emmanuel Ikpeme, and the Director of finance.
“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 continued and insisted that the coaches would be paid their salaries as soon as “things improve.”
Keshi led the Nigeria national team to win the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in South Africa and is a match away from qualifying the Super Eagles for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
