Minimum wage for NPFL players reviewed

The League Management Company (LMC) and representatives of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) clubs have agreed on an upward review of monthly wages for players.

This was agreed upon during a consultative meeting the LMC and clubs in Abuja this week.

It was agreed that the monthly minimum wage of players for the 2013/14 season will be pegged at N150,000 (around $940).

The minimum wage will then be reviewed and upped by an additional N50,000 from the 2014/15 season in which no player in the NPFL will earn less than N200,000 ($1,250) per month.

The improved monthly minimum wage has also led to the LMC and the clubs agreeing to abolish signing-on fees which had been a knotty issue in Nigeria's top flight in recent years.

The NPFL clubs were also given "one year moratorium" to pay off outstanding signing-on fees owed players before the start of the 2014/15 season.

"That signing-on fees for players have been abolished from the 2013/14 season and that a players enhanced salary scheme will come on stream with a monthly minimum wage of N150,000 for the new season and an upward review to N200,000 to be implemented from the 2014/15 league season.

"That henceforth, no complaints of non-payment of signing-on fees by players shall be entertained by the LMC. However, all clubs with outstanding signing-on fees’ indebtedness to players for the 2012/2013 league season have been given one year moratorium to negotiate the liquidation of such debts before the start of the 2014/15 season," a statement from the management company disclosed.

However, players in the top flight will no longer be offered "a contract of less than three years tenure except those who have played for 10 seasons or above in the league."

The LMC also warned clubs of tapping up players not under contract with them, adding that they face "relevant sanctions" for such clandestine activity.

"The LMC and the clubs agreed that short-term contracts for players have been abolished and no player shall be offered a contract of less than three years tenure except those who have played for 10 seasons or above in the league. Such players who have been offered three years contract can only contemplate a transfer out of the club after serving a minimum of one year.

"LMC shall apply relevant sanctions on any club that approaches a player without first notifying the owner or current club of such player," the statement also read.

The 2013/14 NPFL season will commence on the weekend of February 21, 22 and 23.