Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State has assured players and officials of Bayelsa United and Bayelsa Queens Football clubs that, the Government will take steps to offset arrears of sign-on fees owed them.
The Governor, who gave the assurance, when players and officials of the two clubs called on him at Government House in Yenagoa, noted that, despite the lean finances of the Government, it will work out modalities for the settlement of the sign on fees to motivate and boost the morale of the players and officials to win laurels for the State in future competitions.
He has, therefore, directed the Ministry of Sports Development to immediately forward a memo to him for approval and release of funds for the settlement of the backlog of the sign on fees, adding that, because of the lean finances of the State, the arrears will be paid in installments, within the means of available resources to also enable them meet their personal and family responsibilities.
The Governor also used the occasion to commend the management and players of Bayelsa United for winning their last match in the league, that enabled them to escape relegation from the top flight of the Nigerian League, with an assurance to host them to a dinner, as a token of appreciation for their performance.
He also urged the players and officials of Bayelsa Queens to repeat the feat of their male counterparts by ensuring that, they retain their top flight status in the Women’s League.
In his words: “As you all know I’ve just arrived the state and I was told about your concerns about the delay in the payment of your allowances and I thought I should interact with you for two reasons. Firstly, I wanted an opportunity to congratulate you, members of our Bayelsa United team for the victory in your last outing and to tell you that, we are very happy with you; congratulations. The same goes for the Queens.
As a matter of fact, I proposed a dinner with members of your team, when I was told that you worked very hard to escape relegation, despite the challenges you were going through and I was very elated. I will show the appreciation of our government and I think we will still arrange it.
The second reason is I wanted to have an opportunity to let you know that, I am aware of the challenges, because my commissioner, the board and other stakeholders have been reporting to me”
Dickson noted that, his interactive session with the teams, has afforded him the opportunity to understand and appreciate their demands better, stressing that, the first installment of arrears of their sign on fees will be settled next week, while modalities would be worked out to ensure that everything is settled before the commencement of the next football season.
He however, discouraged the idea of the players taking to the streets, stating that, there were better ways of channeling their grievances.
Earlier in their separate remarks, the Captains of Bayelsa Queens and Bayelsa United football clubs, Prudent Ugoh and Salmon Junior, thanked the Governor for his untiring support of the two teams and appealed to him to look into the long pending issue of arrears of their sign on fees.
