Nigerian players union gets world body approval

President of the National Association of Nigeria Professional Footballers (NANPF), Tijani Babangida on Thursday visited the Fédération Internationale des Associations de Footballeurs Professionnels (FIFPRO) headquarters in Amsterdam, Holland.

At FIFPRO Babangida had a successful deliberation with the Executive Secretary, FIFPRO Africa division, Stephane Bulkchater, deliberations on the way forward for the players union.

Bulkchater, who expressed satisfaction over his emergence as the NANPF’s president, commended him for his effort while endorsing the players’ union pension scheme initiative, amongst its other plans. Bulkchater admonished the Nigeria Players Union to pursue its rights regarding the union entitlements to share from sponsorship and television rights monies received by the football authority and leagues in line with best global practices.

The Africa FIFPRO scribe advised the union to liaise with the football federation in ensuring the establishment of the Players Status Committee and National Disputes Resolution Chamber (NDRC). And as well as ensuring that a minimum of two national team players be made members of the union’s executive board.He disclosed that NANPF shall have the opportunity to participate in the next FIFPRO Africa division congress in March, 2020, to kick start processes for the admission of NANPF into the global players union, adding that that FIFPRO shall attend the Africa Footballers Summit being put together in June 2020, by NANPF.

FIFPRO said it was aware of the Babangida-led NANPF activities, which he said are in tandem with the global body expectations. In his response, Babangida said he was glad that FIFPRO has endorsed the activities and programmes of the players union, adding that the outcome of the meeting would only encourage the body to work harder for the benefits of other Nigerian footballers.The former Super Eagles winger also reiterated the union’s unflinching determination to operate according to the best global practices and deliver on its several life changing and enhancement programmes for the NANPF members.