Court orders Nasarawa govt to pay coaches, players N98m entitlements

The National Industrial Court (NIC) on Tuesday ordered the Nassarawa State Government and the state-owned Nassarawa United FC, to pay N98 million to five coaches and 12 players, being their unpaid salaries and sign-on-fees.
Justice Kenneth Amadi gave the order in two separate judgments on Tuesday, in favour of the coaches and players.
The coaches and players had separately sued the club and the state government over their failure to settle their entitlements since 2015.
The coaches are Evans Ogenyi, Sylvester Ekoja, Michael Jatau, Bala Nikyu and El Shammah Inusa.
The plaintiffs had differently served as technical adviser, assistant coach, chief coach, goal keeper trainer and chief trainer before being laid off in 2015.
The aggrieved players also laid off by the club in 2015 include Okopi Sunday, Vincent Christopher and Jediael Dachor.
The rest are Shehu Dauda, Marcus Zung, Michael Ibi, Abba Abdullahi, Peter Gregory, Bidemi Abdulwahab, Samaila Mohammed, Abubakar Isah and Danlami Mohammed.
In his judgment, Mr Amadi gave the club and the state government until April 30 to settle the entitlements.
Out of the N98 million, the coaches are to receive N46. 4 million while the players are to be paid N51.65 million as salaries, match bonuses and sign-on fees.
The two groups approached the court through their separate Counsel, Messrs Paul Hammachi and A.G. Yirvoms.
The plaintiffs, in their separate prayers, urged the court to compel the club and the state government to pay them the entitlements awarded to them by NFF Players Status/Arbitration Committee on October 10, 2015.
Also responding, Mr Usman, Counsel to the Nasarawa State Government, said, “We are bound by the judgment of the court, which was very sound.
“We shall, however, get a certified true copy of the judgment, study it and see what next step we shall take if need be, ’’ he said.(NAN)