NPFL refs get 50% pay rise as new season beckons

Referees in the Nigeria Premier Football League will benefit from a 50 percent pay raise and new communication gadgets for the 2024/25 season, fulfilling a promise by NPFL board chairman, Gbenga Elegbeleye. This initiative aims to enhance fair and credible officiating. Negotiations are also underway to secure air transportation for referees and players. The Nigeria […]

Referees in the Nigeria Premier Football League will benefit from a 50 percent pay raise and new communication gadgets for the 2024/25 season, fulfilling a promise by NPFL board chairman, Gbenga Elegbeleye.

This initiative aims to enhance fair and credible officiating.

Negotiations are also underway to secure air transportation for referees and players.

The Nigeria Referees Association (NRA) president, Sani Zubairu, confirmed that referees are already in training to familiarize themselves with the new equipment, which will be used by all referees for the league’s 380 matches, including Federation Cup games.

• Tinubu will transmit whistleblowing policy to National Assembly soon –Edun
• NAHCON Needs systemic reform – Presidency

He emphasized that the new gadgets will improve referee performance and expressed anticipation for more high-performance tools in the future.

“We are in training already to get the referees used to the equipment. It will be used by all four referees for all the 380 matches of the NPFL, including the Federation Cup matches.

“This will enhance the performance of our referees, as you cannot compare officials using gadgets with those that are not. So, we are still expecting more high-performance gadgets to be provided for our referees as time goes on,” the NRA president said.

In addition to the pay raise, referees will receive increased match indemnities, marking the second increase in the past year.

Zubairu highlighted the importance of motivation, noting the NFF’s commitment to referee welfare.

It was gathered that referee earnings are influenced by the distance they travel to match venues, with the minimum payment being N150,000 to N200,000 per match, covering transport and feeding.