FIFA-licensed players’ agent and football intermediary, Eddie Ogbemudia, has praised the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the National Sports Commission (NSC), and the Players’ Status Arbitration Committee (PSAC) for what he described as significant reforms aimed at improving the welfare of footballers in Nigeria.
Ogbemudia particularly applauded the PSAC for its renewed effectiveness in resolving contractual disputes involving players and coaches, noting that the committee has become more active than at any time in the last decade.
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“I want to commend the Players’ Status Arbitration Committee (PSAC ) for a job well done. For the first time in over 10 years, the committee is not just existing on paper but is making a real impact,” he said.
According to him, the committee has helped players and coaches recover more than ₦1 billion in outstanding salaries and contractual entitlements over the past 12 months, benefiting both Nigerian and foreign footballers.
He also praised the NFF and the PSAC leadership under Otunba Sunday Dele-Ajayi for ensuring that the committee functions effectively.
“I also commend the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) and the Nigeria National League (NNL) for enforcing PSAC judgments. Their efforts have been commendable, although there is still room for improvement,” he added.
Ogbemudia, however, called for stricter enforcement of disciplinary measures against clubs that fail to comply with PSAC rulings.
He expressed concern that some clubs still manage to register players despite transfer bans, describing it as a loophole that undermines the integrity of the system.
“Some clubs fail to pay within the stipulated period, and even when transfer bans are imposed, they still find ways to register players. That shows there are still weaknesses in the enforcement process.
“We must move away from the culture of treating some clubs as sacred cows. The rules should be applied fairly and consistently across the board if we truly want accountability in Nigerian football.”
The FIFA-licensed agent also welcomed the recent decision by the NSC and the NFF to introduce a minimum monthly salary of ₦2 million for players in the NPFL, describing it as a positive step toward improving players’ welfare.
“I commend the NSC and the NFF for approving the ₦2 million minimum salary for NPFL players. Personally, I believe our players deserve even more. In several smaller football nations, players earn between $5,000 and $10,000 monthly.
“This is a good beginning, but enforcement will determine its success. It is easy to make policies in Nigerian football, but implementation has always been our biggest challenge.”
He urged clubs to comply with the new wage policy, while suggesting that if some clubs genuinely cannot afford the ₦2 million benchmark because of economic realities, stakeholders should agree on a realistic and sustainable salary structure.
“We need a system that allows our players to earn decent wages and remain in Nigeria instead of leaving for leagues in countries like Benin Republic and other smaller football nations simply because of poor remuneration at home,” Ogbemudia concluded.
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