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N12bn outstanding allowances: Ex-lawmaker, Nwogu, commends Tinubu, Enoh

A former House of Representatives member, Hon Chidi Nwogu has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the payment of the backlog of salaries and bonuses of the Super Eagles and other national teams saying it is timely.

Nwogu who represented Nkwerre/Nwangele/Isu Njaba Federal Constituency of Imo State at the lower chamber of the National Assembly stated this during an exclusive interview with Sporting Tribune in Abuja on Monday.

The payment by the president covered the clearing of the senior national team coach, Jose Peseiro, with salaries running up to 15 months.

Sporting Tribune, on Sunday, had quoted Tinubu Media Centre on X which read in part “President @officialABAT has approved the payment of N12 billion outstanding backlog for Nigeria’s National teams of various sports, which includes Super Eagles and others…”

The former federal lawmaker who was impressed with the President’s gesture, said he (the president) has demonstrated that he is a listening and sports-loving personality who wants the best for Nigerian sportsmen and women.

He also commended the Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh for the positive roles he played in the whole issue and for living up to expectations and being a great administrator of integrity.

“I want to commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for releasing the backlog of salaries and bonuses owed the national teams especially the Super Eagles at the time they are preparing for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast. This president’s gesture could not have come at the right time as it will boost the morale of the boys and the technical crew going into a competition of such magnitude.

“The President has demonstrated that he is a listening and sports-loving personality who wants the best for Nigerian sportsmen and women and attaches a lot of importance to their welfare.

“I also want to commend the Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, for the positive roles he played in the whole issue and for living up to expectations and being a great administrator of integrity. It is he the (minister) who took the detailed memo to Mr President on all debts owed including national teams’ coaches’ salaries of $1.6 million. Mr President approved all and it was released on 31st December, 2023 from the service-wide votes intervention fund. The minister stated this during the award presented to him by the All Progressive Congress (APC) Forum recently,” he told Sporting Tribune.

Nwogu, who was an immediate past board member representing the South East in the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) and a chieftain of the APC, congratulated the chief of staff to the president, Femi Gbajabiamila for also being a recipient of the APC Forum award.

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