By Daily Sports on October 1, 2017

The National Association of Nigeria Professional Footballers (NANPF), otherwise known as the Nigeria Players Union, has demanded from the League Management Company (LMC), the release of its statutory funds without further delay.

The demand for the entitlement, according to a statement issued on Thursday in Lagos, follows promise made by the LMC Chairman, Shehu Dikko, since February 2017, which is yet to be fulfilled.

Comrade Austin Popo, Secretary of the Union, said the demand has become necessary to enable the Union meet its statutory responsibilities of addressing issues of players’ welfare and other related matters.

“On several occasions and instances the LMC Chairman has failed to fulfil his promises to the union, with all kinds of excuses, amongst which are the issue of harmonisation of the two factions of the Players’ body as a condition for the disbursement of the Union’s statutory fund by the LMC Chairman.

“Unfortunately after the harmonisation of the two factions of the Players Union through the process of integration of the National Association of Nigeria Footballers (NANF) into the National Association of Nigeria Professional Footballers ((NANPF) precisely on the 2nd of May 2017, nothing has changed.

“Furthermore, the official signing of the proposed Collective Bargain Agreement (CBA) between the players Union and the LMC to regulate the relations between both bodies  on the governance and welfare  of players’ matters in the league, plus the  exact percent of monies from sponsorship and other deals received by the league, due to the Players Union in line with global practice is yet to be consummated despite several meetings, agreements and interventions from major football and Labour stakeholders,  which includes  the NFF President, Amaju Pinnick and the TUC President, Bobboi Bala Kaigama.”

Popo said, “There is no doubt the LMC Chairman’s  attitude and disposition on this matter continues to showcase the impression that the LMC is doing the Union a favour and therefore he is not compelled to fulfil whatever promises and agreement that has been reached. To say the Union activities and its primary responsibility of service delivery to players is almost paralysed, is to say the least.

“As a body we have chosen the path of peace thus far asking for our rights as representatives of the main actors laying the eggs that is producing the resources for football and the leagues, in ensuring that the game continues to flow uninterrupted.

“Unfortunately the Chairman of the LMC has overstretched the patience of the Players’ Union, deliberately designed to weakened and truncate the operations of the Union. If not, what do you make out of a situation where both the NFF and the clubs get their shares of sponsorship monies from the LMC, except the Players’ Union.

“While we expect the LMC to do the needful in the shortest possible time to avoid any form of industrial unrest and disharmony, considering its negative impact on our football and the league, the Union will not hesitate to use all possible means at its disposal to fight for its rights,” Popo said.

The Union called for further intervention of the NFF and the TUC to quickly intervene on this matter.

 •LMC Chairman Shehu Dikko

Source Daily Sports

Posted October 1, 2017

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