Unpaid Allowances Spark Concern Among NPFL Match Officials

Referees and other match officials in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) have raised concerns over unpaid allowances, saying they have not received indemnities for about 11 matchdays, stirring discontent as the league prepares to resume the second half of the 2025/26 season.

The NPFL is currently on a mid‑season break, and officials report that payments have been stalled since around matchday eight. Referees, match commissioners, and referee assessors say their basic allowances per match range between ₦60,000 and ₦90,000, excluding hotel and transport allowances, and that many have had to rely on other jobs to cope.

An unnamed official said that around 200 match officials involved in the league have been affected and that they received little explanation for the delay.

NPFL partners, responsible for managing payments, claim that the outstanding allowances are being cleared and will be settled before the second half of the season begins, though many officials had yet to confirm receipt.

The development comes amid broader discussions about financial pressures and administration in Nigerian football, where remuneration and timely payment for match officials and players alike have been persistent issues.