Sports
LMC Plans Pension Scheme For NPL Players
The League Management
Company (LMC) has said that a mandatory pension scheme for players in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) was underway.
The Chairman of the LMC, Nduka Irabor, gave this indication in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.
According to him, the new scheme will take care of the players’ retirement.
“We plan to introduce something very beneficial to the players themselves: mandatory savings; mandatory savings that will be managed by fund managers not their managers or LMC managers.
“We want to create some kind of bridging pension for the players. They are workers like those of you in government establishments.
“But, they play for 10 years, 15 years and they retire into penury; that won’t happen.
“We will create a special kind of pension for them that their employers and they themselves will contribute as expected by the law.
“So, let’s take care of their welfare before we talk about the razzmatazz,’’ Irabor said.
He said that players in the country’s elite league would henceforth be celebrated even after they had retired from professional football, adding that the league existed because of them.
“We are celebrating them; that is why we are worried about the efficacy of payments to them and we plan to monitor their payments.
“We have first of all raised their minimum wage to N150,000 a month and in some cases we have done more than 200 per cent increase in some of the existing salaries.
“We know that their tenure is short; so, if they put in 10 years or 15 years in football they should be able to get their gains,’’ Irabor added.
The NPFL was recently adjudged the fourth strongest league in Africa and 53rd in the World following some of the reforms introduced by the LMC within one year in office.
The verdict which was made by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) rated Tunisia, Egypt and Morocco as Africa’s first, second and third strongest leagues respectively.
The Bayelsa State government, yesterday, announced that the marathon will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2026.
The inaugural race is owned by the Bayelsa State Government and will be organised by Nilayo Sports Management Limited, a sports management company.
Under the theme “The Reveal,” the race represents a bold unveiling of Bayelsa’s immense human and cultural potential to the international community, inviting the world to witness the resilience, grit, and talent rooted in the heart of the Niger Delta.
According to the organisers, the race will be flagged off at 9:30 a.m., at the Opolo Roundabout, guiding participants through a carefully designed 10-kilometre route that highlights the scenic beauty and vibrant atmosphere of Yenagoa.
The course will culminate at Peace Park Square, where athletes will cross the finish line into a grand celebration of endurance, unity, and community spirit.
To elevate the experience for runners and spectators alike, the finish venue will host a high-energy post-race concert featuring performances from top A-list artistes, blending sport and entertainment in a festival-style atmosphere.
The organisers directed all registered participants to collect their race bibs and kits at the designated Peace Park Square between March 30 and April 3, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily.
The race, according to them, is currently on track for World Athletics accreditation, underscoring the commitment of both the Bayelsa State Government and Nilayo Sports Management Limited to delivering an event that meets the highest global standards.
The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, on Friday continued the Commission’s nationwide appreciation tour with a visit to Abeokuta, where outstanding junior athlete, Majekodunmi Afusat Bisola, was presented with a cheque of N3 million.
The presentation forms part of the NSC’s initiative to recognise and reward exceptional junior athletes who distinguished themselves in 2025 and contributed significantly to Nigeria’s medal haul.
Majekodunmi delivered an impressive run of performances on the track. At the last edition of the National Sports Festival, she stormed to gold in the 400m and the 4x400m relay. She replicated the double triumph at the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Junior Championship, in Abeokuta, before emerging as one of the standout stars at the African Youth Games in Luanda, Angola.
Speaking during the presentation, Olopade explained that the Commission deemed it necessary to extend financial appreciation to grassroots athletes after elite performers had earlier received grants running into thousands of dollars.
“A few weeks ago, after paying grants to our elite athletes, we agreed tthere was a need to also appreciate these young, budding talents who made Nigeria proud last year,” he said.
He disclosed that of the 376 medals recorded by Nigerian athletes in 2025, more than 200 were won by grassroots talents, underscoring the importance of sustained investment in youth development.
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