PFAN Sets Up Welfare Task Force

By Akeem Busari
Following several reports of physical and financial challenges bedeviling some members of the Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria (PFAN), the foremost players union led by Tijani Babangida, MON, has set up a strong 4-man task force to help ameliorate some of the challenges.

In a statement from the National Secretariat and signed by PFAN’s General Secretary, the Welfare Task Force has Dr. Mohammed Ogidi, Chairman, Pius Ndubuokwu as Secretary, Aminu Yusuf and Moses Kpakor, as the other members.

The appointments approved by PFAN President Tijani Babangida, which is effectively immediate, has the following as terms of reference are; to recover debts owed players by clubs dating back 10 years ago; to negotiate better working conditions for professional players within the Nigerian leagues; to study and review professional players contracts, as well as to ensure that professional players get adequate legal representations; to expand on their scope as they may deem fit to achieve the overall interest of better welfare for the Nigerian Professional Footballer.

Towards helping the task force achieve its mandate, PFAN President, Tijani Babangida MON, has directed the General Secretary, Emmanuel Babayaro MON, OLY, to write a letter of Introduction to the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) and the Interim Management Company (IMC), in order to ease the work of the task force.

While congratulating the members of the Task Force, Babangida lauded its composition as the best any organization can boast of.

“This is a top quality task force, that boasts of its chairman, who is a top EFCC official, as well as, other distinguished members that include reputable legal luminaries and of course, a football icon and university lecturer. At last Nigerian players are set to heave a sigh of relief, ” the PFAN President enthused.

While thanking the task force members for their sacrifices for the Nigerian player, the Babangida, also charged them to do a very professional, thorough and transparent job, as well as, engaging critical stakeholders in every step.

The PFAN Welfare Tasks Force shall determine their modus operandi, even as it is expected to submit documented reports of their progress every forth night to the PFAN General Secretary.