Chai! This one no be better news at all! E be like say referees and match officials for NPFL dey vex as their money don scatter since matchday eight. Na about 11 matchdays dem never see their indemnity. As the league dey enjoy mid-season break, na so wahala dey unfold!
According to report wey dem gather from The PUNCH, dem don owe referees, match assessors, and commissioners plenty money—some of dem dey collect between N60,000 to N90,000 per match, plus transport and hotel allowances. One referee wey no wan show face talk say, “No be only we dey suffer! Match commissioners dey waka for this wahala too. We just dey try survive, no body don talk anything to us.”
Na true o! For 2023, NPFL gree increase wetin dem dey pay referees and match officials by 30% to make sure say dem go fit chop well. Dem even gather N10m for each of the 20 clubs wey dey the league every season and prize money don increase reach N200m for league champions. But na wetin come happen? GTI wey dey manage payment no dey follow up as e suppose!
Andrew Ekejiuba wey be Head of Media and Publicity for GTI come talk say dem dey work on the payments now. He assure say, “I sabi say some payments dey outstanding. But right now, dem dey clear am. Some match officials don begin get their money back and before second half of the season start, all payments go don settle.” Hmmm, we go put am for mind!
But as e be now, nobody don talk say dem don collect their money. One official come yan say, “If dem don pay, e no go show for our account die. But when we see say our padi don collect, we go sabi say dem don settle the matters.” Na so we dey follow this gist!
For the table, Rivers United dey hold ground as dem dey lead NPFL with 37 points after 19 matches. Dem dey aim to collect the league title again! Make we dey watch how dis one go play out as dem dey prepare for second half of the season. Dem no go fit enjoy the round leather game well if dem no get wetin dem dey owe dem, abi you no think so?
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