Nigeria’s foremost players’union, the National Association of Nigerian Professional Footballers (NANPF), has decried the almost non-existing welfare packages for footballers playing in the NPFL and NNL.
In a statement signed by the union’s General Secretary, Comrade Austin Popo, the national secretariat of the union laments the continual complaints from players regarding the non-payment of salaries and bonuses for several months, including worsening camping conditions by some clubs in the NPFL and NNL.
The statement further described as alarming and disheartening that some clubs continue to abandon basic welfare responsibility of their players, who most times are subjected to play games on empty stomach.
The union specifically demand that the management of the NNL come out with new rules and compelling conditions that go beyond playing games and qualifying to play in the league, participating teams must have a guarantee to pay players salaries and bonuses, at when due. And equally providing adequate and habitable camping conditions, as well as comfortable travelling arrangements and facility.
According to the players union, investigations revealed that most clubs in the NNL lack the necessary structures to play in the NNL as professional clubs.
The union, therefore, in a circular to its states councils, demanded further investigations of all clubs in NPFL and NNL within their jurisdiction in the next seven days, for proper action.
