Akwa United players to earn less than LMC's monthly benchmark

Players of Uyo based Nigerian professional Football League side, Akwa United have been told they may earn less than the one hundred and fifty thousand naira monthly salary benchmark established by the League Management Committee to take effect from the new season.

A club source hinted over the weekend that the club will not be able to meet the financial conditions of the LMC, but will do same next season. It has also been revealed that the highest paid player of the club will earn a hundred and twenty thousand naira, a situation that has raised huge concerns to the players and fans following the abolishment of sign on fees by the League Management body.

The source said the club did not include the new salary structure in its budget for the season, maintaining that the club cannot accept what they cannot pay.

It was also gathered that a member of the LMC had last week called some players of the team asking how much they are being paid by the club.

“Akwa United refused to negotiate salaries for their players on time, delayed till the dying minutes and force the poor salary structure on the players, leaving them with no option as clubs had already finished registration of players for the new season," a fan, Bassey Sambo lamented.

Mr. Sambo said it is unacceptable and referred to the situation as a sabotage for a club which received the highest fund last season among clubs nationwide by a State Government, not to be able to pay the new benchmark salary set up by the LMC. He called on the management to trim the squad to thirty players instead of having close to fifty as the case were in previous seasons.

Efforts to reach the teams' management to comment on the issue as at press time proved abortive.

The new Glo Professional Football League season kicks off on March, 7 across the country, with Akwa United welcoming Gombe United at the Uyo township stadium.

FG To Fight Corruption In 2014 - Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday said irrespective of the challenges Nigerians might have faced, the country remained a truly blessed one, whose diversity remained its source of strength. Jonathan said this in his New Year message to the nation made available by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati.

He added that the Federal Government would fight corruption more in 2014. He said, “Our administration believes that the cost of governance in the country is still too high and must be further reduced. We will also take additional steps to stem the tide of corruption and leakages. “We have worked hard to curb fraud in the administration of the pension system and the implementation of the petroleum subsidy scheme. We have introduced a Pensions Transition Arrangement Department under a new Director- General. This department will now ensure that those of our pensioners still under the old scheme receive their pensions and gratuities, and are not subjected to fraud. “Prosecution of all those involved in robbing our retired people will continue. The Petroleum Subsidy Scheme is also now being operated under new strict guidelines to tackle previous leakages in the scheme and prevent fraud. “Foreign travel by government personnel will be further curtailed. This directive shall apply to all Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government. Our strategy to curb leakages will increasingly rely on introducing the right technologies such as biometrics and digitising government payments.” He added, “Whatever challenges we may have faced, whatever storms we may have confronted and survived, Nigeria remains a truly blessed country, a country of gifted men and women who continue to distinguish themselves in all spheres of life, a country whose diversity remains a source of strength,” he said. The President observed that 2014 would be a momentous one for the country for several reasons, including the fact that the nation would celebrate its 100 years of existence in the New Year.

He recalled that the British colonial authorities amalgamated the separate Protectorates of Southern Nigeria and Northern Nigeria on January 1, 1914 to give birth to Nigeria. “Year 2014, to Nigerians, is not just the beginning of a new year, but the end of a century of national existence and the beginning of another,” he said. This, he said, was a moment for sober reflection and for pride in all that was great about Nigeria. While reiterating his position that the nation’s amalgamation was not a mistake, the President said as they celebrate the 100 years of its nationhood, Nigerians must resolve to continue to work together as one united people.

He assured Nigerians that his administration remained committed to the development of the country and the consolidation of peace, unity and democratic governance. He added that despite several domestic and global challenges in 2013, Nigeria witnessed many positive developments which his administration would strive to build upon in 2014. The President admitted that the cost of governance in the country was still too high and must be further reduced.

He also promised to take additional steps to stem the tide of corruption and leakages. Jonathan added that foreign travel by government personnel would be further curtailed and that the directive would apply to all ministries, departments and agencies of the Federal Government. The President also reeled out statistics on the strides he said his administration achieved in the agriculture, health, education, water and housing sectors among others and promised to do more in the New Year.

Source: The Punch