Former NFF technical official says allowances from Golden Eaglets, Flying Eagles and Super Eagles assignments remain unresolved years later
For Nigerians who followed schoolboy and domestic football in the 1970s and 1980s, Siji Lagunju is hardly an unfamiliar name.
A former Nigeria international and University of Ife graduate, Lagunju played for prominent clubs including IICC Shooting Stars, Leventis United, International Breweries of Ilesha, Bendel Insurance, Iwuanyanwu Nationale and Stationery Stores. He later moved into coaching, technical development and football administration within the Nigeria Football Federation.
Today, he has a specific unresolved claim.
Lagunju says the NFF still owes him US$9,350 in estacode allowances arising from three national-team assignments in 2015 and 2016. His correspondence states that his regular salaries were paid, including during a period when illness prevented him from performing his normal duties.
A DOCUMENTED $9,350 CLAIM
In a written demand provided to me, Lagunju says US$5,950 remains outstanding from his work with the Golden Eaglets during preparations in Argentina and Nigeria’s successful 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup campaign in Chile.
He also claims US$1,700 from a four-day Flying Eagles assignment to Burundi in May 2016 and another US$1,700 from a four-day Super Eagles assignment to Sudan that year.
The total is US$9,350.
The demand is dated August 2025 and bears acknowledgment of receipt from the NFF General Secretary’s office. Lagunju says he was never formally informed of any decision and, to his knowledge, nothing has been done to resolve the claim.
ACKNOWLEDGING WHAT THE NFF DID
Fairness also requires acknowledging what Lagunju says the federation did for him.
After suffering a partial stroke in 2021, he says the NFF provided ₦750,000 toward his immediate medical needs and later ₦300,000 following the death of his wife. He also states that his regular salary continued during his illness.
His complaint is therefore narrow: the US$9,350 estacode claim remains unresolved.
PRESIDENT TINUBU’S ₦12 BILLION INTERVENTION
On January 7, 2024, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved ₦12 billion to clear outstanding payments involving Nigeria’s national sporting teams. Public reporting said the package covered up to 15 months of senior national-team coaching salaries, together with allowances and other obligations involving senior, women’s and Under-20 national teams.
That was a substantial federal response to a longstanding backlog.
The question relevant to Lagunju is simple:
Was his outstanding estacode among the obligations considered for settlement?
If it was, what happened? If it was not, why not?
THE DOCUMENTARY TRAIL
When Lagunju submitted his demand, Ibrahim Musa Gusau was NFF President and Dr Mohammed Sanusi was General Secretary. His letter was addressed to the President, with attention to the General Secretary, and bears evidence of receipt by that office.
Was the claim examined? Was it verified? Was it approved or rejected? Was Lagunju ever formally informed of an outcome?
Gusau and Sanusi resigned on August 27, 2026, after which the NFF announced that Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme would oversee the Secretariat as interim General Secretary.
THE ₦12 BILLION INVESTIGATION
In August 2026, the EFCC and ICPC commenced investigations into the utilisation of the ₦12 billion intervention fund. On August 28, 2026, the EFCC confirmed that its investigation remained ongoing. The existence of an investigation should not itself be interpreted as proof of wrongdoing by any individual.
Lagunju says that if the EFCC or any other investigative body wishes to examine his case, he is prepared to submit his letter and supporting documentation.
While the investigation remains ongoing, persons with documented outstanding claims also have an opportunity to place relevant records before the appropriate authorities for consideration.
If anyone with knowledge of the appropriate EFCC process, or anyone in a position to help ensure that Lagunju’s documented claim reaches the relevant authorities, can assist in directing the matter appropriately, this would be a timely opportunity to do so while the investigation remains active.
The purpose is not to seek sympathy, but to ensure that a documented claim is properly examined and either resolved or formally addressed.
Lagunju has also said that other members of some national-team delegations may have outstanding estacode from those assignments. Those assertions should be checked against NFF delegation lists, travel approvals, estacode schedules and payment vouchers.
No legitimate entitlement should remain unresolved without explanation.
NOT CHARITY — ACCOUNTABILITY
Lagunju continues to contribute to football long after leaving full-time service with the NFF.
His technical credentials remain significant. In April 2017, contemporary reports said he was among 35 elite coaching instructors from across Africa invited by CAF to its inaugural Pro-Licence Elite Instructors Course at the CAF Centre of Excellence in Mbankomo, Cameroon.
Public reporting has also described Lagunju as holding Nigeria’s only CAF Pro Licence qualification, while his years within the NFF included extensive involvement in coach education and technical development.
Since March 2026, he says he has consistently produced coaching-education lectures and football discussions through TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and WhatsApp. In July 2026, he also organised a coaching seminar in Osun State attended by approximately 45 coaches.
Yet Lagunju says that since leaving the NFF, he has not been invited to lecture at recent CAF C, B or A Licence courses organised in Nigeria.
His qualifications, experience and accumulated football knowledge remain intact.
That raises a broader question:
Is Nigerian football making sufficient use of experienced and properly credentialed technical personnel who remain capable of contributing after leaving full-time service?
For Lagunju, that question exists alongside his separate US$9,350 estacode claim.
If the claim is valid, it should be resolved. If it is not valid, he should be formally informed why.
And where qualified former technical officials remain active and professionally relevant, their experience should at least remain available for consideration in future coaching-education and technical assignments.
That is not asking for charity.
It is asking for documentation, transparency, accountability—and recognition of knowledge Nigerian football can still use.
AUTHOR’S NOTE
This report is based on correspondence and documentation provided by Coach Siji Lagunju, including a written claim bearing acknowledgment of receipt by the NFF General Secretary’s office, together with publicly available records.
I undertake this work voluntarily, on my personal time and without compensation. My purpose is to use my voice where appropriate to bring legitimate issues affecting footballers, coaches and others who have served the game into public view. I believe in fairness, accountability and equitable justice.
Paul Lucky Okoku
FIFA Legend | Former Nigeria Flying Eagles Vice-Captain | Former Super Eagles International | AFCON Silver Medalist | Football Historian | Football Analyst | Investigative Football Writer | Journalist-at-Large | Founder & CEO, Greater Tomorrow Children’s Fund (GTCF)