BREAKING: EFCC, ICPC Probe ₦12bn Government Fund Released to NFF for Players’ Wages, Bonuses
By Umar Usman Duguri
ABUJA — The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) are reportedly examining the disbursement of a ₦12 billion Federal Government intervention fund released to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to settle outstanding wages, allowances and bonuses owed national team players and officials.
The development follows renewed questions over the management and utilisation of funds released by the Federal Government after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved the intervention in January 2024.
The ₦12 billion was approved to clear outstanding financial obligations to the Super Eagles and other national teams, including unpaid salaries of coaches and allowances and bonuses owed to players. Contemporary reports confirmed that the intervention was intended to address backlogs affecting several national teams.
However, concerns over the utilisation of the money have continued to surface, particularly amid reports that some players and officials remained owed money after the intervention.
In 2024, football stakeholders called for greater scrutiny of the NFF's finances, including the federation's handling of government interventions as well as grants received from FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
More recently, reports have again raised questions over the disbursement of the Federal Government's intervention funds. A July 2026 report said members of the National Assembly had raised concerns over alleged discrepancies surrounding the N12 billion intervention and demanded explanations from the football authorities.
The controversy is significant because the intervention was specifically intended to ensure that national team players, coaches and officials received money already owed to them.
Former Sports Minister John Enoh had previously disclosed that the intervention eventually rose from ₦12 billion to ₦17 billion because of foreign-exchange considerations, with the additional funds also intended to address outstanding obligations involving the national teams.
The latest scrutiny is therefore expected to focus on the original amount approved, subsequent releases, the accounts into which the funds were paid, expenditure records and evidence of payments allegedly made to players, coaches and other beneficiaries.
Questions may also arise over whether the funds were applied strictly for the purposes for which they were approved and whether appropriate financial documentation exists to support the expenditure.
The allegations do not, however, amount to a finding of guilt against the NFF or any individual. Any wrongdoing will have to be established through due investigation and, where necessary, prosecution.
The development comes against the background of longstanding complaints over unpaid allowances and bonuses involving Nigeria's national teams. Reports have previously indicated that players across several national teams remained owed despite substantial government interventions.
For Nigerian football stakeholders, the investigation could provide an opportunity for greater transparency in the administration of public funds allocated to the country's national teams.
The EFCC and ICPC are expected, if the reported investigation proceeds fully, to establish how the funds were received, disbursed and accounted for, and whether every intended beneficiary received the money due to them.
The outcome could have wider implications for financial accountability within Nigerian football, particularly as calls grow for stronger oversight of the NFF's management of both government funding and international football grants.