President Goodluck Jonathan may have finally approved the N78 million outstanding salaries of the Super Eagles Chief Coach, Stephen Keshi, and his assistants but sports minister Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi believes the Federal government should not be the one picking the bills for national football team coaches “under a normal setting.”
“I got the approval of Mr President on Friday and that shouldn’t have been the case. The private sector should be made to join forces with the Nigeria Football Federation to do this,’’ said Minister Abdullahi during a media parley with members of the FCT chapter of the Sports Writers’ Association of Nigeria, SWAN, in Abuja on Sunday.
Abdullahi took the issue to Jonathan when the Alhaji Aminu Maigari-led Nigeria Football Federation could not pay the salaries of the coaches in its employment.
“President Goodluck Jonathan has shown more than enough commitment to sports in this country.
“Each time we run to him when we have a problem, he comes to our aid.
Abdullahi added: “The president of Nigeria shouldn’t be paying coaches salaries. The Nigeria Football Federation should be able to pay their own coaches. So if the Federation is not able to do that, you will see the Federal Government coming to the rescue at all times.
“But that is not right.”