Two Years After, National Assembly Yet To Redeem Paris Paralympics Financial Pledge To NOC, PCN

Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abass

The leadership of the country’s National Assembly has not redeemed its pledge of N100 million to the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) and Paralympic Committee of Nigeria (PCN) ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics Games.

As the public continues to reflect on the support extended to Team Nigeria ahead of the Paris Olympic Games, it has become necessary to seek clarity on the fate of two major financial gestures announced at the Green Chamber.

At the special session held to honour Nigerian athletes ahead of the Paris Olympics, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas ably represented by his Deputy Benjamin Kalu publicly presented a ₦100 million cheque to the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) and the Paralympic Committee of Nigeria (PCN) as a way of boosting the morale of the Team Nigeria to the global event.

This was declared as the House’s direct contribution to boosting athletes’ preparation and welfare.

At the same event, Hon. Aminu Balele, Member representing Dutsin-Ma/Kurfi Federal Constituency, personally made a donation in foreign currency equivalent to ₦3 million, which was handed over to the then Minister of Sports, Hon. John Enoh, for the benefit of the athletes.

Investigations revealed that till date the said donations have not been given to NOC and PCN by the leadership of the National Assembly.

“Months after these widely publicised donations, either the NOC nor PCN has received their share of the donations. Nobody can say exactly where is the funds and didn’t even know if the funds were disbursed to the NOC and PCN as announced?

Did the athletes preparing for the Olympics receive the support intended for them?

What official records exist to confirm the utilisation of these contributions?

These gestures were made in good faith, in the full glare of the nation, and in direct support of our athletes who sacrifice so much to represent Nigeria at the highest level”, said a top official working at the Chambers but pleaded not to be mentioned.

It will be recalled that the NOC was represented at the event by its General Secretary Tunde Popoola while PCN president Sunday Odebode was in attendance physically.

When contacted about the donations, PCN president declined to comment on the matter while the NOC President, Engr Habu Gumel could not be reached on phone as it was learned that he has travelled out of the country on official assignment.

The angry source continued, “accountability is not optional it is owed to the donors, the athletes, and the Nigerian people,therefore call on all relevant authorities, including the Nigeria Olympic Committee, the Paralympic Committee, and the Ministry of Sports, to provide clear, transparent, and verifiable updates on the status and utilisation of these funds. Nigerians deserve answers.

“Our athletes deserve better and we therefore called on relevant authorities to look into this matter “,said.

When contacted for confirmation via telephone chat,the Chairman House Committee on Sports Honourable Kabiru Amadu failed to respond or acknowledged receipt of the message as at the time of filing this report.