By Daily Sports on January 20, 2017

The National Association of Nigeria Professional Footballers NANPF, the official Nigeria players Union affiliated to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has petitioned the Football Federation and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria over the disbursement Of the sum of N240 million recovered by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) from Total Promotions Limited on behalf of the Former Nigeria Premier League Clubs.

Prior to the disbursement of the fund to the affected clubs and the petitioner, the Premier League Clubs Owners Association (NANPF) had informed the EFCC through a letter dated 5th of September 2016 addressed to the Chairman and Director of Operations requesting for equitable disbursement of the fund especially as it affects the indebtedness of some of the beneficiaries clubs to players and coaches in respect of various decisions of the NFF Players Status and Arbitration Committee.

The Players Union letter to the EFCC specifically requested the anti-graft Commission to pay ten percent of the said sum to NANPF as the recognised Players Union for furtherance of the rights and protection of players’ interest; ensure that at least 50 percent of the debts owed the affected players and coaches are paid with the recovered sum; and disburse the balance to the clubs.

“Surprisingly, the EFCC did not respond to our  letter instead went ahead to supervise the disbursement of the fund without carrying out due diligence of authenticating the genuineness and status of all the beneficiaries, including the petitioner who collected the sum of N24 million which is ten percent of the amount recovered by the EFCC in accordance with the schedule given to the EFCC by the Clubs Owners Association,” NANPF General Secretary, Comrade Austin Popo said in a statement issued on Wednesday.

Further discussion with the leadership of the clubs owners association revealed that the agreement entered into with the NPL in the sharing formula for sponsorship monies did not make provisions for the Players Union, having conceded to this submission of the club owners association, the union insisted that the affected clubs should pay debts owed the players and coaches with the recovered fund. The leadership of the club owners association further asked the union to make direct contact with the affected clubs which the union did through a letter dated 25th November 2016, including one on one discussion with some of the clubs’ chairmen. Promises were made by the chairmen to pay but never did that as soon they got their allocation.

“Our investigation revealed that some past chairmen and officials of the NPL were also paid monies for their services rendered to the league body, while the players and coaches who produces the fund based on their collective image rights were never considered in spite of our numerous appeal to the Premier league Owners Association and the clubs to pay the affected players and coaches.

“In view of the above we want the Nigeria Football Federation and the Trade Union Congress to

investigate the disbursement of the fund to determine the authenticity and genuineness of the beneficiaries; compel a reversal of monies disbursed to any illegal persons or institutions; compel the clubs owners association and the concerned clubs to pay the affected players and coaches with monies disbursed to them; and prevail on the EFCC and clubs Owners Association to pay the balance of N100 million, recovered from Total Promotion Ltd. to the affected players and coaches

Failure to address these issues in the shortest possible time will leave the Players Union with no other choice but to seek redress outside of Football to get justice for the affected players and coaches.”

 •Photo shows Amaju Pimmick

Source Daily Sports

Posted January 20, 2017

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