Nationwide Sports activities Fee (NSC) Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, has defined why a N6.44 billion price range provision for Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying marketing campaign remained within the 2026 Appropriation Act.
The problem got here up after former Vice President Atiku Abubakar questioned why the cash was nonetheless included within the price range regardless that Nigeria did not qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Atiku mentioned the price range merchandise, listed as “Particular Presidential Assist Group for the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers,” wanted a public clarification.
He requested why the federal government budgeted N6.44 billion for the World Cup qualifiers after Nigeria’s qualification marketing campaign had ended. He additionally questioned who authorised the price range line and what the cash was meant for.
The price range provision has sparked public dialogue, with many Nigerians asking whether or not the allocation was for a programme that had already been accomplished.
In response, Dikko mentioned there was a misunderstanding about how the nation’s price range system works.
In line with him, the N6.44 billion was first included within the 2025 price range to assist the Tremendous Eagles’ World Cup qualifying marketing campaign. Nevertheless, he mentioned the cash was by no means launched in the course of the 2025 monetary 12 months.
Dikko defined that regardless of not receiving the funds, the Nationwide Sports activities Fee nonetheless financed Nigeria’s World Cup qualifying matches, together with the playoff fixtures, utilizing different accessible sources.
He mentioned the Federal Authorities later authorised the switch of some unfunded 2025 price range gadgets into the 2026 price range so funds may very well be made for initiatives already carried out or programmes that had been nonetheless excellent.
“The price range sub-head has been within the Federal Authorities price range because the 2025 Appropriation Act to assist the World Cup qualifiers,” Dikko mentioned.
He added that when the 2026 price range was ready, Nigeria nonetheless had a petition earlier than FIFA in regards to the qualification course of. Due to this, he mentioned there was motive to maintain the price range merchandise till the matter was concluded.
Dikko additionally revealed that after Nigeria’s hopes of qualifying for the World Cup formally ended, the NSC labored with the Nationwide Meeting and the Funds Workplace to vary the price range by means of a corrigendum.
He mentioned the modification would enable the funds to be legally redirected to assist different Nigerian nationwide groups collaborating in worldwide competitions.
In line with the NSC chairman, utilizing a price range corrigendum is a authorized course of for correcting or updating gadgets within the Appropriation Act.
He maintained that rolling over unfunded price range provisions from one 12 months to a different is a part of the Federal Authorities’s price range implementation coverage for Ministries, Departments and Companies (MDAs), particularly the place initiatives have already been accomplished however cost has not but been made.
The controversy has renewed requires better transparency and accountability within the administration of presidency funds for sports activities growth and different nationwide initiatives.
