29 February 2008
Abuja — The Board of the Nigeria Football League may suspend the annual N10 million subvention to Globacom Premier League clubs as a protest against the alleged corruption of match officials by the clubs, Chairman of the Board, Chief Oyuki Jackson Obaseki has said.
While inaugurating two new committees, the Players Welfare/Arbitration and Legal Committee Wednesday, Obaseki disclosed that "the NFL spends at least N20 million monthly on the Premiership match officials' accommodation, indemnities and feeding, but reports reaching us here at the NFL office alleged that the clubs had consistently been bribing the match officials, especially the referees, to bend results.
"We came about this idea of giving N10 million annual subvention to them in order to supplement their lean budgets during the league season. But since they are now proving to us that they have enough money to bribe referees, we may withdraw the subvention and use the money in other better venture", he said.
He said that in line with the transparency of the NFL Board, details of all the Board's financial dealings, including the monthly allowances being paid to Premiership League match officials would be published periodically in some national newspapers.
He charged members of the two committees to endeavour to live up to their responsibilities because of the confidence reposed in them by the Board of the NFL, adding that the welfare of all stakeholders and legal support were essential for the advancement of professional football and indeed, the league in the country.
"Premised on this, the NFL has carefully selected you gentlemen and astute administrators as chairmen and members of these committees. The NFL is also determined to establish a professional league that would, within the shortest period, compare favourable with other leagues worldwide," he emphasized.
Responding on behalf of other members, chairman of the Players Welfare/Arbitration Committee, Hon. Sabo Babayaro, said that looking at the calibre of those in the membership of the committees, he was very optimistic of a good job to be done by them.
The Legal Committee is headed by Barrister Ray Nnaji with Akhigbe Samson Okhaide as secretary, while the Players Welfare/ Arbitration has among others, Chief Segun Odegbami, Bala Garba, Mitchel Obi, Dudu Orumen, Dr. Ayo Bello, Al-Hassan Saleh Yakmut, with Abubakar Abdulaziz as secretary.
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