LMC preparing to wield axe on owing Taraba FC, warn Warri Wolves players

It seems the cash crunch which has hit the states of the Federation mostly leaving state governments unable to pay workers salary has affected even players in the Nigerian Premier League. This has not however deterred the League Management Company (LMC) who have granted FC Taraba 10 working days as an extension to pay up all amount due players of the club or face sanctions which includes points deduction just as Warri Wolves got a reminder that it had up to October 24th, 2015 to also pay all indebtedness to its players. The LMC also wrote to the players of Warri Wolves through their captain to draw their attention to relevant regulations guiding players’ declaration of industrial dispute with their clubs and reminded them that in line with relevant articles of the Framework and Rule, the Club still had three weeks to comply with the summary jurisdiction notice issued it by the LMC.

The temporary reprieve for FC Taraba followed a letter of undertaken from the Government of Taraba State dated September 25th, signed by the Chief of Staff, Government House Administration pledging to address all outstanding indebtedness to the players and club officials.
In a letter signed by the LMC Chairman, Shehu Dikko, the club was reminded that the summary jurisdiction notice issued it on July 30th which required it to pay financial entitlements of the players within 60 days had expired in violation of article B9.45 of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Framework and Rules.
Dikko wrote that “we note that till date, the debts owed players of your club remain unpaid. However, we are in receipt of a letter, reference: GHJ/COS/S/3 dated 25th September, 2015, signed by the Chief of Staff, Government House Administration, Office of the Executive Governor, Taraba State, which contains commitment and undertaking that the outstanding salaries of players and technical crew will be isolated for phased payment to commence within the next one week”.
The LMC said it was in consideration of the commitment that “we will put a hold on further action for a period of ten (10) working days (i.e. until 5:00pm on Friday, 16th October, 2015), within which period payment must have commenced”.
In the matter of Warri Wolves, Dikko in another letter to the club brought to their notice the Summary Jurisdiction notice dated August 25th which required it to pay all financial entitlement due the players and officials, would soon expire.
The LMC Chief in concluding his letter to Warri Wolves said, “you are hereby reminded that the 60-day period, within which you are expected to remedy the breach, will lapse on the 24th of October, 2015. Be advised that your club will become liable to the initial deduction of six (6) points, should you fail to meet the deadline”.
To Super Eagles Centre back & Warri Wolves Captain Azubuike Egwuekwe, , the LMC wrote, “you will recall that in our previous correspondence, we assured you that the matter of outstanding players’ salaries and financial entitlements would be resolved as the Club had already been issued with the statutory notice to pay up or face sanction; and that you, on behalf of the Players of the Club, pledged to adhere to the League Rules regulating such grievances”.
Quoting articles D1-3 of the Framework and Rules, the LMC also reminded the players of the procedures for embarking on strike, one of which requires the aggrieved players to give a 45-days notice to the club and 15 days for the LMC to resolve the dispute.
It therefore warned the players to “be advised that the current actions by Players of Warri Wolves FC are against the provisions of the League Rules and have the potential to not only undermine the regulatory process already commenced but also to bring the League to disrepute. Please note that we will not hesitate to impose relevant sanctions as applicable”.
“We therefore urge all Players to adhere to the grievance procedure and the rules and regulations of the League, while assuring you that players’ welfare remains of paramount importance and that we are working with the management of the Club to ensure that this matter is resolved before the deadline contained in the statutory notice and also that steps are taken to avert future occurrences of such matters”, the LMC concluded in the letter to the players.