PETER RUFAI AND THE DUTY OF CARE FOR NIGERIAN SPORTS MEN AND WOMEN
By Prince Harrison Jalla
Nigerian sports men and women are entitled to a duty of care from Nigerian sports administrators. This fundamental concept rests on three principles:
1. Sports men and women are taken into sports at a very young age when they cannot make decisions for themselves.
2. Sports are prone to career-threatening injuries; one compound fracture, if not properly treated, can end one’s career.
3. Sports have the shortest career span.
In saner climes, sports administrators are obliged to a duty of care to sports men and women, and where there is a breach of duty of care, it can lead to a legal claim of negligence.
Let’s focus on football as an example. FIFA, the world football body, generates billions of dollars annually. These funds are generated through the activities of professional footballers worldwide, and FIFA redistributes them to its member federations.
Nigeria, for instance, has received significant funding from FIFA and CAF. However, the funds generated through the activities of current and retired Nigerian professional footballers are not being utilized to guarantee their future welfare.
In other countries, professional footballers are entitled to a certain percentage of every fund generated through their activities, as part of collective bargaining agreements. This ensures retirement benefits, education, medical grants, and more.
It’s puzzling that Nigerian sports administrators haven’t implemented similar measures to protect the welfare of sports men and women. The lack of a safety net has led to numerous cases of sports icons living in poverty and dying under tragic circumstances.
The case of the late Peter Fregene is a national disgrace, highlighting the negligence of Nigerian sports authorities. It’s time for sports federations to set up collective bargaining agreements to protect current and retired sports men and women.
Peter Rufai, like many other sports icons, was entitled to a duty of care. The issue lies with greedy and selfish administrators prioritizing personal gain over the welfare of athletes
