Presidency Moves To Pay Keshi

--Sports Minister reveals, blames NFF for financial mismanagement

Sports Minister,Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi has revealed that coach of the Super Eagles, Stephen Keshi will be paid his salary arrears within the next forthnight.He disclosed this yesterday on Channels television's early morning programme, Sunrise Daily.
Abdulahi said he had to appeal to higher authorities to help in the payment of the coach's salary arrears since it was not captured in the National Sports Commission's budget for the year.

"The Presidency has made arrangements to pay the salary arrears of the coach of the Super Eagles Stephen Keshi on or before next week,'' he revealed and blamed both Keshi and the Nigeria Football Federation for causing the nation an international embarrasement.

Abdulahi blamed Keshi for not bringing the matter to his notice when it became glaring the always 'broke' NFF cannot afford to pay him,stressing that it's important that whoever works for someone must be paid every dime.

"I thought the coach should have brought the matter to my notice when he did not receive his salaries for up to two,three months.He has my number and he should have called.I got to know about it on the pages of newspapers. And as I speak to you, it was after it was reported on the pages of newspapers that I called the federation and asked what is going on there and of course I issued them a query to explain why that happened,''Abdulahi stated,blaming the cause on the inefficient management of resources by the NFF.

Abdullahi reiterated that it is not the responsibility of the Sports Ministry to pay the salaries of coaches.He also said he does not believe in making scapegoats of people who failed to discharge their responsibilities.

"I don't believe in cutting heads when things go wrong. I believe we should ensure that everything is done properly. We (Sports Ministry) don't have the responsibility of paying the coaches, the federation has that responsibility but as you know, the national emotion is so connected to it that the government cannot say let the federation handle it on their own anymore .Since it was not in our budget,I had to appeal to the Presidency and everything should be cleared soon,''