As just few days remain before the 2026/27 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season kick off, fresh argument don start again over the proposed ₦2 million minimum salary for players.
The latest controversy come after the National Sports Commission (NSC) stand gidigba on the policy despite strong opposition from sports administrator Soliu Adeyemo, na weytin Hitvibz dey yan be dat.
NPFL Salary: NSC Say Clubs Must Pay ₦2 Million or Comot
Director-General of the NSC, Bukola Olopade, make am clear say dem no go shift ground on the proposed salary policy or the tougher club licensing rules, insisting say any club wey no fit meet the new requirements should waka comot from the league.
Olopade talk say the reforms dey important to make Nigerian football better, improve players’ welfare and stop the way talented footballers dey run go other African leagues because of poor salary.
“We need to reform our football, whether you like am or not. If you no fit meet the guidelines, even if na only five clubs remain, we go still run league with five clubs,” Olopade talk.
“Make una stop to dey pay our players peanut. If we no fit pay our players ₦2 million, make we comot for the matter.”
According to am, Nigerian footballers no suppose dey leave the country go leagues like Benin Republic and Vietnam just because dem dey find better pay.
“We no fit continue to dey suffer our players like this. Our pikin dem dey go Benin Republic and Vietnam go play football for just $800.”
The NSC oga also reveal say after the commission announce the proposed reforms, FIFA later release statement, something wey show say world football authorities dey pay attention to wetin Nigeria dey do.
Apart from players’ salary, Olopade stress say the NPFL must become more commercial through better television coverage, stronger sponsorship deals and improved marketing.
He also beg the media to support the reforms, saying a stronger football industry go create more opportunities not only for players but also for journalists, clubs and every stakeholder.
According to am, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu want sports to create wealth for everybody, and everybody for the football ecosystem suppose benefit from a properly managed and commercialised league.
NPFL Salary Debate Don Hot After Adeyemo Blast Di ₦2 Million Proposal
Even as the NSC refuse to back down, sports administrator Soliu Adeyemo strongly reject the proposed ₦2 million NPFL minimum salary, dey insist say no current NPFL player deserve that kind money.
When em dey talk dis thing for Playzone Podcast, Adeyemo no hide him mouth at all.
“Make una hear me well, no NPFL player wey worth ₦2 million salary, and I dey talk am as e be.”
He explain say if person ask am three or four years ago, e for no talk so, but him experience working closely with NPFL clubs don change him opinion.
“Three or four years ago I for no talk this kind thing. But for the last two or three years wey I don work closely with NPFL clubs from marketing angle, I don see say plenty of these players no worth that kind money.”
E tok say dem suppose focus more on developing players first before dem begin talk about increasing their salaries.
Adeyemo also dismiss the belief say NPFL players no dey earn well, insisting say many of them already collect reasonable salary.
“Most people believe say NPFL players no dey earn well, but the truth be say plenty of them dey earn well.”
Him comments don make the argument stronger as many people dey ask whether improving players’ welfare suppose come before commercial growth or whether both reforms need to happen together if the NPFL really want move forward.
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Last Updated on July 13, 2026 1:39 pm by Hitvibz Media
NSC Say NPFL Clubs Must Pay ₦2 Million or Comot as Administrator Talk Say No Player Worth Am
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