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5th Edition of NYG: FCT Coaches, Athletes Groans

Published

5 years ago

September 19, 2019

5th Edition of NYG: Coaches, Athletes Groans

…..I Regrets Going To Ilorin with FCT Team-Coach

Joel Ajayi

While other states athletes were receiving accolades left and right center as many are smiling to the bank the The Gleamer News confirmed that the portion of athletes and coaches were nothing but gnashing of teeth and full of regret.

Athletes and coaches of FCT at the just concluded National Youth Games NYG in Ilorin Kwara State have expressed their displeasured over the poor treatment from the FCT Sports Council, saying they regretted going to Ilorin with FCT team.

It will be recalled that The Gleamer News reported that 5 days to the commencement of the 2019 edition NYG in Ilorin, the Nation’s capital’s City team were not given adequate preparation as athletes were subjected to untidy preparation due to inability of FCT Administration to released fund for better preparation.

It was equally reported that during the games in Ilorin Officials of Team FCT and athletes were held hostage as they are unable to offset the balance for their accommodation fees.

Officials which includes the coaches and the sports association secretaries did not received a dime since their arrival at the University of Ilorin, the venue for the 5th National Youth Games. The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) had promised to get funds available for the annual Games which gave them the confidence to leave on credit but till Sunday, 15th September, 2019 (the last day of the tournament) a dime has not been paid to the coaches and athletes who represent FCT at the Youth Games.

Some of the officials who rented an apartment inside the school campus will not be released by the hostel staff as they are yet to pay for their accommodation. The hostel staffs have threatened not to allow them to move out of their apartment unless their money is paid today.

These and many agonies were the portions of FCT athletes and coaches at the just concluded tournament in Kwara state.

Narrating the ordeal one of the FCT coaches who doesn’t want his name to be mentioned said: “No support, nothing, they did not give the Athletes anything, I am the one taking care of the athletes with my money.

“They just abandoned us, they don’t even care about how are going to survive after we played, we won and they were informed, even at the final nobody came to see whether we survive or not.

“This is very sad. I regret going to Ilorin with FCT team, other state called me to come and coach them I say no, other state paid their athletes 40,000, I rejected such offer, and it was a bitter, lesson up till now, no allowance were given to us.

“I spoke with Director of Sports Mrs Dilichukwu even the track suit, they were given, we did not get, and they share it among themselves.”

When asked if accommodation and feeding were given? he replied: “Though They give us food and accommodation but the treatment was a bitter experience.”

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Nigeria Will Take Good Shape In No Distant Time- Olawande

Published

5 hours ago

September 16, 2024

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Minister of State for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande has urged the citizens of the country to be patient with the Administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in transforming the lives of its citizens through various policies and programs of the federal government.

The Minister made this submission while delivering his speech at the Joint Union Negotiating Council’s week of the Federal Ministry of Youth Development branch. This is the first edition since both Ministries of Youth and Sports had been damaged. The JUNC week which was held at Atiku Hall, Office of Head of Civil Service of the Federation in Abuja had its theme: “The working people in a volatile, uncertain, and complex economy”

In the words of the Honourable Minister: “I urge you to be patient with this administration. In no distant time, the country will take good shape and the lives of its citizens will be transformed”.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not a pauper, he is an acknowledged epitome of wealth, and so it cannot be said of him that he desires to loot the treasury of Nigeria. He has seen money and as a result of this, he is not interested in looting the nation’s treasury”, Olawande explained.

He emphasized that “leadership is all about being committed to serve. If you are a Minister now, tomorrow you will be addressed as a former Minister, likewise a Director because there is no permanent position but the impact that you made while in that office will speak after you”, the Minister reiterated.

Olawande expressed his gratitude to the workers of the Ministry for being supportive of the government policies and programs. He promised that the welfare of the staff would not be compromised, adding that workers deserve remuneration for being hardworking.

Earlier in his address, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Olubunmi Olusanya admonished the staff of the Ministry to put in their best as “Performance Management System” which replaces APER is the criteria to be used for promotion effective next year. This, according to him is because the Performance Management System (PMS) records the best efforts and input of each staff which will in turn be used to grade such staff.

Olusanya who disclosed that the welfare of the staff is his priority as workers deserve the best for the services rendered. He opined that “the hungry man is angry and as a worker, if you are not treated fairly and properly, it is impossible to get the best out of you. As a result, all staff will be treated properly as motivation to propel the best in you”, he concluded.

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Esther Didi Walson-Jack, OON, MNI, in her address, informed that the activity to reinvigorate the Civil Service in a bid to ensure that Civil Servants carry out their duties with much diligence to have efficient and incorruptible civil service is currently on course. She advised workers to wake up and be committed to the service of the nation.

In his closing remarks, Mr. Jerry Akume, the General Secretary of the Union expressed his delight in celebrating this year’s edition of the Union week, while highlighting the achievements of the union so far. These include:

Upward review of staff welfare, prompt payment of repatriation allowances, payment of first 28 days allowance, assistance to the sick, general training of staff, and sending forth/retirement package for retired staff.

He also appealed to the Management of the Ministry, saying that irrespective of the aforementioned achievements, a lot still needs to be done in such areas as procurement of staff buses, upward review of welfare payment for festive periods, consistent general staff training, and procurement of office and work materials.

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