By Jude Opara, Abuja

The Federal House of Representatives Committee on Sports again refused to entertain the members of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) management team yesterday when they went to defend the 2015 budget proposal because the federation failed to explain how much they collected from the World Football governing body, (FIFA) and the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

The lawmakers therefore gave the team which was led by the first vice president of the federation, Barr. Seyi Akinwumi 7- days to present to them details of various funds it received from all other sources in the past year or forget the 2015 appropriation.

Recall that last week, the committee refused to attend to the team led by the general secretary, Musa Amadu because of the absence of the NFF president Amaju Pinnick as well as the Minister and Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Dr. Tammy Danagogo as well as the Director General of the NSC, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye from the hearing.

Chairman of the House Committee on Sports, Hon. Godfrey Ali Gaiya while rejecting the 2014 budget appraisal as presented by the football federation insisted that the NFF only recorded the budgetary allocations it received from the federal government.

He also reminded his guests that it is within the scope of operation of the Parliament to look into any funds accruing to any government agency, including gifts from affiliate international bodies and other sponsors before they could be spent.

“I am happy that the general secretary, Musa Amadu is here and he is in a position to know that all the funds from FIFA and CAF ought to be part of what is submitted to Parliament.

Going by what you have presented in this document, one can see that you have just presented expenditure profile of funds you received from the federal government, but it goes beyond that.

We are giving you 7 days to come with details of such grants and funds including dollar components which you received from your affiliates and sponsors “, he insisted.

In his response, Akinwumi, who stood in for the NFF president, Amaju Pinnick, assured the lawmakers that the federation will comply with the directive. He further explained that he was drafted in at short notice to make the presentation in the absence of the NFF President adding that things will be different when they return next week.