From ROMANUS UGWU, Abuja
President Muhammadu Buhari has given a standing order to the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development to ensure that no government official and members of the National Assembly embark on a jamboree trip to Brazil for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games on the account of the government.
Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Chinyeaka Ohaa, who made the disclosure while appearing before the House of Representatives Committee on Sports yesterday argued that the paucity of fund necessitated the Presidential directive.
Reacting to the inquiry from the Reps committee members on how the ministry intends to accommodate them, the Permanent Secretary who represented the Minister, Solomon Dalung, doubted the possibility of accommodating them among the Nigerian contingent.
“We have been directed by Mr President that anybody who does not have any business in the Rio Games should not be part of the contigent.” The Permanent Secretary also revealed that there would be no charter flight for Team Nigeria and her officials, arguing that since many of the individual athletes and teams like basketball are already outside the country, it would be more economical to make travelling arrangements with some airlines.
Meanwhile, the Reps committee on sports has summoned the Minister of Finance, the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Budget Office to appear before it next week Monday by 2.00pm to brief the body on the release of fund for the preparation of Team Nigeria ahead of the Games.