Bolaji Abdullahi, Nigeria’s Sports Minister, has disclosed that the implementation of code of conduct for the Super Eagles would be delayed till the end of World Cup Playoff games between Nigeria and Ethiopia.

The code of conduct came to being following players’ protest against sudden reduction of bonus by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

A six-man panel was set up to draft this code of conduct and submitted it to the sports minister in Abuja.

The minister says the panel’s recommendations will be implemented, but warned bad timing could create more disaffection, distraction and failure.

 Special Assistance to the Sports Minister said, “There is no change on the bonus agreement. The panel's report is very strategic and as soon as we are done with the World Cup qualifying matches, we will implement the report fully," he explained.

"We don't want to introduce the report now so that it does not distract us from the work we have at hand now. We will continue to manage it. It is after the World Cup qualifiers that we plan to put in place the structures that can provide the final solution to it."

He said there is no official commitment to back down on decision to slash bonuses paid to the players in the national team.

"The players were paid $5,000 each for the win against Malawi and there was no problem. The minister has taken this step to prevent distractions as he understands the huge task before the team as they prepare for their World Cup play-off.

"There is no change on the bonus agreement. Implementation of the panel recommendation will be done at the end of the qualifiers."

It would be recalled that in June, Nigeria's players refused to go to the Confederations Cup following their 1-1 draw in Namibia in a World Cup qualifier as they were unhappy with the bonus payments offered by the NFF.

The sports ministry intervened and made extra money available, eventually allowing the squad to travel to Brazil - two days late and only around 36 hours before its opening game against Tahiti.