Bayelsa State Athletes who won medals at the 18th National Sports Festival in Abuja last year have taken to the street of to protest over unpaid rewards promised them by the State government months after returning from the Fiesta, sports247.ng can report
Hananeel Jackson who made this available to newsmen said the protest started from the Samson Siasia Stadium to the government house, Ovom saw the athletes carrying different placards with different inscriptions such as “You have done it before and we you will do it again Sir” “We Need Our Rewards Sir”
“Your Excellency, We wish to remind you of our much awaited rewards from the 2018 Abuja National Sports Festival “amongst others.
Addressing the media on the development, the leader of the Protest Mr. Amas Daniel said the reason behind the protest was not ridicule to the government but know the reason why the money had not been paid since they came back from Abuja last year.
Captain of the Bayelsa State Festival football team Okolai Rapheal and Nelson Kemebo explained that several months after the promise they have yet to receive the money.
Reacting to the development, Chief of Staff Government house Mr.Talford Ongolo urged the athletes to be patient, stressing that they will received their rewards soon.
On his part, commissioner for Sports Development Mr Perekiye Buruboyefe assured the athletes that something positive would be done soon.
The state government had pledged to reward the athletes one million naira for each gold medalist, Hundred Thousand Naira for each Silver medalist while each bronze medalist was promised Three Hundred Thousand Naira.
Team Bayelsa finished 5that National Sports Festival with a total of thirty two gold, Fifty Six Silver and Forty Nine Bronze medal.
