Abuja — Director-General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, has dismissed reports suggesting that the Super Falcons are yet to receive their match bonuses, insisting that all payments have been made. Speaking in an interview on Friday, Olopade said he personally confirmed with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and team captain, Rasheedat Ajibade, that the bonuses were fully settled. “I know authoritatively that all their bonuses, without going to the figures, have been paid. I’ve confirmed from NFF and I’ve confirmed from Ajibade that, but for maybe one or two whose accounts are with the CBN, all of their monies have been paid,” he said. Olopade described the contrary reports as “false and misleading,” adding that Ajibade never claimed otherwise. “We should not put the young woman in a predicament of denying or saying she said something that she didn’t say when, in the real sense, the money is in their accounts and is with them,” he said. The NSC boss assured that President Bola Tinubu’s $100,000 cash reward and housing units promised to the Falcons would also be delivered. “As of a few days ago, Madam Chairwoman was still talking to the Minister for Housing. Work has already started on how they will get their apartments in record time. We are in a government that fulfils promises,” he added. Olopade insisted that players had even received part of their entitlements before the team’s final matches. “Those bonuses were paid even before the final matches — to the tune of almost $30,000 each. Each player has been paid their bonuses before the final matches. And now it is out there that we’ve not paid those bonuses, which is a lie,” he said. Beyond the Falcons’ bonuses, the NSC DG highlighted reforms aimed at making sports federation elections more inclusive and transparent. “One of the things we have started doing is to ensure that nobody is disenfranchised. Broaden the scope so that more people can come into playing their role in federation administration,” he said, citing the recent Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) election as “seamless.” He added that under his leadership and that of NSC Chairman, Malam Shehu Dikko, the commission had built a track record of fulfilling promises to athletes. “When we tell athletes they will be given, they get it. We don’t play games with their remuneration,” Olopade said.
Super Falcons have received bonuses, Tinubu’s pledges will be fulfilled – NSC DG
