Players and officials of Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) side, Kwara United FC of Ilorin, on Monday took their protest over unpaid salaries to the state’s Ministry of Finance.
The players and officials were seen clad in their club’s official kits carrying placards with different inscriptions demanding for millions of naira in unpaid sign-on fees and salaries.
The protesters barricaded the entrance into the Ministry of Finance, denying workers access to their office as at 11:45am.
The captain of the club, Akeem Onigbari, said on the sidelines of the protest that they were protesting because of the backlog of sign-on fees and salaries.
He insisted that the protest would continue until their demands were met.
“They are owing us backlog of sign-on fees, five to six years, our salaries have not been paid for the months of March, April and May.
“We have been here since 7am and this protest would continue until they answer our prayers.
“No one has been here to talk to us on our demands, so we are here, ” Onigbari said.
The team’s administrative staff had refused to report for work on Monday as they also joined the protest and were seen at the ministry while armed policemen were sighted keeping vigil.
Kwara United is scheduled to play Remo Stars on Monday in a Match 21 NPFL encounter at the State Stadium complex, Ilorin.
Chairman of the club, Oladimeji Thompson, said he was aware that the players and officials of the club had staged a protest.
He, however, declined comments on the issue.
Kwara United had failed to win in the last six games in the NPFL.
They also require a victory against visiting Remo Stars to escape relegation to the second tier of the league, the Nigeria National League.
