Former NFF President, Amaju Pinnick has expressed concern over the recurring issue of unpaid salaries owed to Nigeria’s national team coaches, attributing the problem to the absence of a stable and well defined payment structure.
Speaking on the matter, Pinnick explained that responsibility for paying national team coaches has alternated over the years between the federal government and the NFF.
According to him, the lack of clarity over who is ultimately responsible for coaches’ salaries has made the issue almost inevitable.
“The coaches will keep being owed because there is no stable arrangement for their payment. Today the government wants to pay coaches, tomorrow the NFF wants to pay coaches. The truth is, it will continue like this until we have a well structured arrangement that prevents coaches from being owed,” Pinnick said.
He proposed that the federal government should take full responsibility for the payment of national team coaches.
“If the government takes up this responsibility and includes it in their budget, like what is done in countries such as Ghana and Morocco, the issue will be resolved. Put it in the budget and be serious about it, be intentional. Whether it’s for next year or two years ahead, I do not think it is too much for the government,” he added.
Nigeria has a long history of disputes involving unpaid salaries to national team coaches.
In the past, a former Super Eagles head coach, who is also a Nigerian football legend publicly complained about outstanding payments owed to him.
There were also widespread reports that former Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr was owed salaries during his tenure.
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More recently, ahead of the 2025 AFCON, reports emerged suggesting that Eric Chelle was owed several months of salary.
The problem as become a norm in Nigerian football level and the virus spreads to even the women’s team and youth teams.
