The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has taken a firm stand against club debts, withdrawing the licences of newly signed players from clubs with unpaid salaries owed to both current and former players.
In a clear message on Thursday, the NPFL warned that clubs who fail to resolve outstanding payments by Matchday 10 will face repercussions.
This move follows numerous reminders, as clubs were given ample time to comply with arbitration rulings from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Players Status/Arbitration Committee.
The NFF Committee had ruled in favour of players and coaches owed back-pay, setting deadlines for compliance that have now lapsed.
NPFL Chief Operating Officer Davidson Owumi underscored the league’s commitment to ensuring player welfare and financial responsibility within clubs.
“After extending multiple grace periods, we’re enforcing the rulings.
“All licences of new signings for these clubs are now indefinitely withdrawn,” Owumi announced in a press release.
NPFL ban: Which clubs are guilty of owed salaries?
This sanction impacts top NPFL clubs, including Enyimba with 18 players affected, Kwara United with 20, Plateau United with 14, and Lobi Stars with 15.
Other clubs affected are El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri with 13 players, Bayelsa United with 18, Akwa United with 17, and Abia Warriors, who have the highest number affected at 23 players.
The NPFL stressed that licences would only be reinstated upon official confirmation of full compliance with the NFF committee’s decisions.
With the season now on Matchday 9, clubs face an urgent deadline to resolve their financial obligations or risk weakened line-ups.
Rivers United currently top the NPFL table with 20 points, closely followed by Remo Stars and Enyimba with 18 points and 14 points respectively.
