Sports
NSC Chair Dikko Vows to End Salary Delays for Nigerian Coaches, Players
The Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, has pledged to permanently resolve the recurring delays in the payment of salaries and bonuses owed to Nigerian coaches and athletes, blaming the issue on bureaucratic funding processes rather than deliberate neglect.
Dikko gave the assurance on Friday while speaking on Arise News’ Morning Show, amid reports that Super Eagles Head Coach, Eric Chelle, is allegedly owed about three months’ salaries and bonuses ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
While acknowledging that payment delays occasionally occur, the NSC chairman insisted that no coach or player is intentionally owed, explaining that the problem usually arises from gaps in the processes of fund approval, release, and final disbursement.
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“There are times the coach is paid in advance, and there are times there are delays. Approving funds, releasing funds, and paying funds are different processes. Sometimes there are delays along the chain, but nobody is owed deliberately,” Dikko said.
He noted that the National Executive Committee (NEC) has intervened to support the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in meeting its financial obligations, adding that steps are being taken to settle any outstanding entitlements.
Dikko further revealed that President Bola Tinubu has approved comprehensive reforms aimed at preventing future payment delays, which have previously led to protests, low morale, and embarrassment for Nigeria in international competitions.
According to him, the President has directed that all sports-related funding be fully captured in the national budget and treated as a priority charge, ensuring immediate availability of funds once the budget is signed.
“Sports funding is time-sensitive. When competition dates are fixed, you cannot afford delays. Funds budgeted for sports will now be released immediately and set aside for access when needed,” he stated.
The NSC chairman also disclosed that sports funds currently spread across multiple government agencies will be consolidated under the National Sports Commission, a move he said would strengthen funding capacity and improve financial stability across sports federations.
Dikko expressed confidence that the new funding framework would restore trust among athletes and coaches, stressing that timely payment is crucial to performance and Nigeria’s sporting reputation.
He assured Nigerians that with the reforms now in place, issues of unpaid salaries and bonuses would soon become a thing of the past in the country’s sports sector.
Signals have emerged that the International Association Football Federation (FIFA) would back Nigeria’s plan to reform her football administration, in view of which the entire Board of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi threw in the towel recently.
Chairman, National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, offered this insight in an interview with ARISE NEWS on Friday after meeting with FIFA and Confederation of African Football (CAF) officials in Switzerland.
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He said the government presented its reform proposals to FIFA after the resignation created a leadership vacuum within the NFF.
“After the resignation of the entire board of the NFF and the General Secretary, naturally we have a lacuna, because there was no provision in the rulebook for situations like that, where we have nobody now to run the NFF legally within the rulebook.”
According to Dikko, the government wants to undertake a comprehensive reform of Nigeria’s football structures, with the process involving consultations with stakeholders.
He said, “We told them, this is our position as a government. The government wants to undertake a comprehensive reform of the football structures in Nigeria, which is something that even FIFA knew has been on the cards for decades in Nigeria.
“So we discussed comprehensive proposals from the government, which are the issues that we think should be reformed, based on the concerns of the stakeholders, and we all agreed on that.”
Dikko said FIFA had endorsed both the resignation of the NFF board and the proposed reforms, while stressing that the process must follow the applicable rules.
“In short, FIFA endorsed the resignation, endorsed reform, agreed that the reform must happen, but it has to go through the proper process and the rulebooks, and they are ready to accommodate that,” he asserted.
Manchester City’s trophy-laden era has come under renewed scrutiny after the club was reportedly found guilty of 114 of the 115 Premier League financial-rule charges brought against it.
The reported verdict, disclosed by The Athletic on Friday, September 25, relates to alleged breaches covering the period between 2009 and 2018.
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The independent hearing lasted more than two years before the outcome emerged.
However, the case is not yet over, as the Premier League has not announced any sanction and Manchester City are expected to appeal the verdict.
The charges include allegations that the club failed to provide accurate financial information and breached rules relating to payments to players and coaches, as well as financial sustainability requirements.
City have consistently denied the allegations.
The reported verdict could have wider implications for the Premier League because the club has won eight league titles, four FA Cups, seven League Cups and one Champions League during the period in which the allegations have been investigated.
Potential sanctions under the league’s rules can include financial penalties and sporting punishments, with points deductions and expulsion among the measures that have been discussed in coverage of the case.
However, no punishment has been confirmed at this stage.
The uncertainty also means questions remain over whether any eventual sanction could affect Manchester City’s past achievements, current squad or future participation in the Premier League.
For now, the reported guilty findings mark a major development in one of English football’s longest-running disciplinary cases, but the final outcome will depend on the sanctioning process and City’s expected appeal.
Chelsea Football Club have confirmed a major ownership change, with Clearlake Capital set to take full control of the club after agreeing to acquire the ownership interests of Todd Boehly and Mark Walter.
Chelsea announced on Wednesday that affiliates of Clearlake Capital Group will acquire Boehly’s ownership interest, as well as Walter’s stake, giving Clearlake full control of the Premier League club.
“Chelsea Football Club today announced affiliates of Clearlake Capital Group, L.P. (‘Clearlake’) will acquire the ownership interest of Todd Boehly.
“Clearlake will also acquire Mark Walter’s ownership interest and therefore acquire full control of the Club,” the club said.
Mark Walter and Todd Boehly have agreed to sell their stakes in Chelsea to Clearlake Capital in a deal that values the club at about £5 billion.
The development marks a significant change to the ownership structure that has been in place since Chelsea’s takeover in 2022.
Chelsea also confirmed that Swiss billionaire Hansjörg Wyss will remain an important partner and stakeholder in the club.
The announcement comes after weeks of reports that Boehly and Walter were considering selling their stakes to Clearlake.
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