Football stakeholders have appealed to the Lagos state Government to expedite action on the payment of financial entitlements to recipients of the 2016 Federation’s cup heroes’ award.
This appeal was made to the state Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, months after the Nigeria Football Federation organised the competition.
An anonymous observer said: “Since the Lagos state Government under Babatunde Fashola volunteered to host the Federation’s cup finals in Lagos, the presentation of awards of excellence to people who have etched their names in gold in the competition has become a part of the annual event.”
According to investigations, some of the recipients are becoming disgruntled over the unsettling lull on the part of Lagos state in redeeming its pledge to the 12 recipients of the lifetime award of the oldest football competition in Nigeria.
Each awardee is entitled to the sum of N250,000 , a plaque and a crested jacket as a mark of respect and recognition for excellence.
Among some of the 2016 recipients were Best Ogedengbe, Babafemi Obafemi (Veteran Referee), Moses Otolorin (former Shooting stars of Ibadan player) who were all represented by their widows and Muyiwa Daniel (veteran Journalis and former Group Sports Editor of the defunct Concord Press)
“This is part of the partnership struck with the NFF to restore the glory of the oldest football competition in Nigeria.”
In their observation, the Fashola led government did not fail to honor their promise to these heroes. Since government is a continuum, the present government should also toe this line as part of its policy to drive the state economy through sports.
They appealed to the government through the Lagos state Sports Commission and the Football Association to ensure that these living heroes are honored and the immediate families of the dead becoming direct beneficiaries of the honor.
