The Nigeria Football Federation has pledged to adhere to the dictates of FIFA in spending the $500,000 relief fund it received from the world football body last month.

This decision was one of several resolutions reached at a virtual meeting of the NFF’s Executive Committee on Thursday, 14 May.

Arising from the meeting, the NFF said it has “set machinery in motion to ensure the fund is utilized to the letter as advised by” the world football body.

FIFA disbursed a total of $150 million last month to its member football associations to help handle financial troubles caused by the coronavirus.

The funds according to FIFA was for “all operational funding” for 2019 and 2020 and is “the first step of a relief plan to assist the football community impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic”.

An NFF statement said the funds will be spent on “but not limited to” certain “core areas” “in line with the FIFA Forward 2.0 Program”.

The areas include Management and Staff salaries, men’s league, women’s league, referees’ development training, National Teams (including boys and girls’ youth teams), office operations, renovations and furnishing of Bauchi NFF/FIFA Technical Centre.

Other decisions reached at the meeting include a modification of the terms of reference of the NFF Foundation which was set up to raise funds for empowerment initiatives for ex-internationals.

In addition to its original mandate, the Foundation will also carry out “football community and social change programmes; grassroots development programmes and; football-for the girl-child and women football empowerment programmes,” the statement added.