Zazzaga queries hefty salaries for Plateau United players, officials

A sports enthusiast and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Plateau State, Saleh Mandung Zazzaga, has frowned at the huge salaries paid to players, coaches and other officials of the state owned NPFL side, Plateau United.

Speaking with newsmen in Jos on his plan to organize sporting activities geared towards promoting peaceful elections in the state come 2023, Zazzaga said grassroots football and other sports in the state are not given the kind of attention Plateau United is enjoying.

Zazzaga observed with dismay that in Plateau United, some players earn more than N700,000 a month while their coaches also take home N1 Million and above every month.

He reiterated that while those in Plateau United smile to the bank every month, other sports/teams in the state are not getting commensurate attention or remuneration.

Zazzaga said as a sports enthusiast, he was not against adequate remuneration for athletes but owing to the current economic situation in the state, salaries paid to the NPFL players and officials should be reviewed to free some money for other sports.

He also wondered if the money being spent on Plateau United is bringing financial gains to the state government.

“There are other sectors like education, health, agriculture, among others that need the government’s attention. So, rather than using such a huge amount of money to finance Plateau United alone, there should be an adjustment so that other football teams, even at the grassroots, can be taken into consideration and boosted accordingly,” he said.

Zazzaga, therefore, said he will soon set up local organising committees for his sports/football competitions geared towards promoting violence-free elections in 2023.