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Team
Nigeria may be scrapped
By RICHARD JIDEAKA and EMMANUEL INEDU, Abuja
Sunday, July 6, 2008
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•Ekeji
Photo: Sun News Publishing |
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The Senate Committee on Sports, which conducted a full scale
investigation on the management of sports in the country and
the dismal performance of Super Eagles at the 2008 Nations
Cup in Ghana, may recommend the scrapping of Team Nigeria
Limited due to what they termed "less productivity."
A member of the Committee told Sunday Sunsport that Team Nigeria
performed below expectation and could not justify the basis
for which the body was established, which was to sell the
benefit of sponsorship to the private sector.
Our source also disclosed that the body established to collaborate
with the private sector to generate funds for sports development,
has proved that it’s not armed for the task and could
as well be sent packing.
Citing examples on why Team Nigeria should be scrapped, our
source stated that the body could only raise N150million for
the All Africa Games in Algiers and had since then not been
able to raise one more kobo for sports development, adding
that the company had admitted that it failed because government
did not give it ‘seed money’ as take off grant
two years after it was established.
The Senate Committee also discovered that Team Nigeria and
the Nigeria Sports Development Fund Incorporated were playing
conflicting roles, even though the latter was also established
by the government to source for fund from the private sector.
The source disclosed that the Senate Committee also recommended
that Mr President should grant special income tax incentives
to companies identified to be making meaningful contributions
to sports development in the country in line with the powers
vested on him.
"We are asking the federal government to minimise its
interference in the management of sports to allow experts
to give the sector a proper sense of direction. We also urge
the government to draw a comprehensive welfare package, which
will take care of sportsmen and women whether they are in
active sports or have retired," the source added.
Meanwhile, the Committee is working on a document, which will
give legitimacy to the National Sports Commission (NSC).
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