Pay Shuaibu, Keshi’s entitlements now, Reps tells NFF

The House of Representatives, on Tuesday, urged Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) to immediately pay the entitlements due to late former Super Eagles’ coaches, Stephen Keshi and Amodu Shuaibu.

The House mandated its Committee on Sports to liaise with the NFF to ensure that the payments were made without delay.

This was sequel to a motion under “matters of urgent public importance’’ sponsored by Rep. Sam Onuigbo (PDP-Abia), which was unanimously adopted.

Presenting the motion, Onuigbo said that payment of the entitlements would serve as conscious effort toward cushioning any pains and financial pressures on the families of the deceased.

Onuigbo expressed worry that Shuaibu was being owed arrears of salaries running into many months.

According to him, Shuaibu was equally being owed by Edo State Government, having worked as the Director of the State Youth Football Development Agency, a position from which he resigned last year.

The lawmaker, who said that the two coaches served the country meritoriously, pointed out that their deaths were huge losses to the Nigeria.

“These iconic Nigerians exercised leadership in football administration and impacted positively on the nation and the world in ways that their outstanding accomplishments brought happiness to Nigerians.

“Even in the periods of economic and political adversities, they died at a time like this when football as a sport enjoyed by Nigerians is taking a nose dive.

“Now, their demise is not only a huge loss to Nigeria and their families but to the international community as well, and we can understand the pains both families and Nigerians are currently going through.

“Nigerians and the international community as a whole have lost the experiences of these patriots and heroes of football, whose services have been lost forever.

Onuigbo further urged the Federal Government to immortalise the football icons who served the country selflessly so as to encourage younger ones to always give their best for the development of the country.

The two former national football coaches died within a space of four days. Keshi, 54, died on Wednesday, while Shuaibu, 58, died on Saturday.