Yusuf Bakare
Athletes from Kwara state staged a peaceful protest on Friday to press home demands for their unpaid camp allowances ahead of the forthcoming National Sports Festival in Edo.
The athletes who took to the street barricading the entrance to the state Ministry of Sports and Youth Development vowed to boycott the the Edo 2020 if their demands are not met.
The protesters used one of their vehicles to barricade the Ministry’s entrance thereby not allowing people entry nor exit to the premises.
Speaking with journalist, Usman Kudus, one of the athletes, said that the athletes are rejecting the N1000 per day promised by the ministry.
“They are telling us, they will pay us but we are very sure they will not pay us which we don’t want.
“We want them to pay us more than the seven days they (Ministry), booked for us” Kudus said.
He said the the athletes are demanding that their N1000 allowance promised be increased to N3000 or they will boycott the tournament.
Kudus said the athletes will boycott Edo 2020 forcing the state to use the money to pay them their allowances to pay fine for not appearing at the competition despite their registration for it.
The state Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Mrs Joana Kolo, who came out to address the protesting asked them to sheath their swords so that the matter can be amicably resolved.
She promised that their demands will be looked into and that the ministry will get to them in few days time.
