Sports Enthusiasts Criticise Bauchi Govt’s Failure To Reward Athletes: 17th NSF

Sports enthusiasts in Bauchi have expressed displeasure at the failure of the Bauchi State Government to reward its athletes who excelled at the 2011 National Sports Festival.

The enthusiasts newmen that the government’s refusal to honour its pledge to the athletes was capable of discouraging the youth from participating fully in sports.

Aliyu Ahmed, an amateur athlete, expressed disappointment over the manner the issue was being handled by the government.

’’These athletes were told by the governor himself that any one of them that managed to win a medal will be rewarded financially and even with employment.

‘’However, up till now, nothing of the sort was given to the winners of medals, no money and no automatic employment.’’

John Akanbi said he thought the government would have fulfilled its pledge by now because it was taking too long.

“ I wonder what is happening because the last time, we learnt that the governor had approved everything and that the money and the jobs would be given to the winning athletes.

‘’Since then, we have not heard any more on the issue, and it seems like it has been swept under the carpet.’’

The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Ishola Michael, said recently that the athletes would soon be rewarded.

The Director of Sports, Alhaji Haruna Bako, also said Gov. Isa Yuguda had approved the payments and the offer, adding that bureaucracy was delaying the rewards.

The government promised to pay N150,000 and automatic employment to gold medalists while silver and bronze medalists would get N100,000 and N50,000 respectively.