NPFL pay rise: Toro calls for public pressure on NSC, NFF

A former Secretary General of the then Nigeria Football Association (NFA), Hon. Sani Ahmed Toro, has called on Nigerian football stakeholders to mount pressure on the relevant authorities to ensure the implementation of the recently announced prize money and salary structure in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).

The National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), following their joint meeting on Tuesday, June 23, in Abuja, officially approved a massive financial overhaul for the NPFL. The overhaul raises the league champion’s prize money from the previous N200 million to a historic N1 billion, beginning from the 2026/2027 season.

According to the landmark decision announced by the Chairman of the NSC, Mallam Shehu Dikko, the runners-up will pocket N500 million, while the third-place team takes home N300 million in cash prizes.

In addition, league clubs have been directed to enforce a mandatory N2 million monthly minimum salary for NPFL players to combat talent flight and protect domestic player welfare. Dikko also announced that strict compliance structures will be enforced by league authorities, mandating clubs to fulfill maximum structural requirements rather than bare minimum benchmarks.

Speaking to Daily Trust yesterday, Toro lauded the sports authorities for the commendable effort, which he said would impact the domestic league positively, but queried some lapses in the decision.

The former member of the House of Representatives wondered why the NSC and NFF failed to disclose the source of the money they intend to inject into the league.

“It is a highly commendable decision. Unfortunately, they did not tell us who the sponsors are,” Toro said. “Who is going to bring the money? Is it the federal government or corporate organisations? And who will be the custodian of the money? Will it be a joint account? These are pertinent questions that must be answered.”

Toro maintained that announcements like the one made recently are often made for political reasons, insisting that Nigerians must put pressure on the NSC and the NFF to ensure the NPFL prize money and new player minimum wage structure are implemented.

“It is a good omen, but it is doubtful if the decision will be implemented without pressure from Nigerians,” he noted.

“You see, Nigerians are not happy that the Super Eagles are not at the World Cup. Secondly, elections into the NFF are around the corner. So, this may be designed to pacify and divert the attention of aggrieved football stakeholders,” he added.

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