Onanuga justifies Tinubu’s financial rewards for Falcons
Spokesperson for the Presidency, Bayo Onanuga, has defended the huge financial rewards given Super Falcons following their victory at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations by President Bola Tinubu.
In a post shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Tuesday, Onanuga took a swipe at critics, who claimed the rewards were either excessive or insufficient.
He drew a comparison with the ₦150 million grand prize offered to the winner of the Big Brother Naija (BBNaija) reality show.
“When you remember that Multichoice, the organiser of the BBNaija reality show, is offering the winner ₦150 million grand prize, you wonder why some Nigerians are unappreciative of President Tinubu’s rewards to the Super Falcons.
“President Tinubu has rewarded excellence, creativity, hard work, soccer artistry, and the undying Nigerian spirit,” he said.
Onanuga’s comments came hours after Tinubu hosted the victorious team at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
At the event, each player and member of the coaching crew was conferred with the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON).
In addition, Tinubu announced a cash reward of the naira equivalent of $100,000 for each player and $50,000 for each member of the technical crew.
He also promised three-bedroom apartments for all team members in the Renewed Hope Housing Estate located in the Federal Capital Territory.
Onanuga’s comparison between the Super Falcons’ rewards and BBNaija’s prize money ignited a flurry of mixed reactions on X, with many Nigerians weighing in on the appropriateness of the gesture and the analogy.
But some Nigerians have criticized the President’s gesture saying that it unjustified, going by the situation in the country.
“The President gave ₦153 million and a house to each member of the Super Falcons for winning the Women’s African Cup of Nations.
“But imagine the thoughts of a public school teacher who wakes up every day to shape the minds of children….on a ₦50,000 salary.
“Imagine the frustration of a medical doctor, who sacrifices sleep, time, and life itself to save others, yet earns ₦250,000, and still has to protest just to be paid.
“Imagine the pain of a police officer, earning less than ₦100,000, standing guard under the rain, in danger, while the rest of us sleep in peace.
“Imagine the tears of a civil servant, begging for a ₦70,000 minimum wage for years, watching others receive in a day what he won’t earn in a lifetime,” Mr Anthony Fadugba said.
He added: “Do you now see why the most vital jobs like teaching, security, healthcare, are now handled by men and women filled with anger, disillusionment, and a deep sense of betrayal?
“How do you expect patriotism from someone who can’t feed their family? Someone whose salary is barely enough to cover transportation costs?
“How do you expect commitment from someone whose value has been reduced to crumbs in a country they serve with their blood?
“Yes, it’s beautiful to reward excellence. But it is dangerous to ignore sacrifice.I pray this same kindness, this same generosity, finds its way to the silent heroes who hold this nation together every single day.”
