NYG: Bauchi contingents stranded in Ilorin as drivers protest unpaid allowances

Over 60 contingents who represented Bauchi State at the National Youth Games in Ilorin, Kwara State were stranded for several hours following a protest by the drivers and security over their unpaid allowances.

The Chairman of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, Bauchi State chapter, Mahmud Ibn-Mohammed, who is part of the contingents told The PUNCH in a telephone interview on Wednesday afternoon that the failure to release the funds by the state government led to the unfortunate situation.

He said that although the approval for the release of the funds for the payment of allowances and logistics were approved about three months ago, the money was yet to be released.

According to him, the contingents were subjected to embarrassing situation due to the lack of release of the funds as over 60 contingents were allocated only four rooms in which to sleep.

“Right from day one, the state government, according to the Sports Council, approved funds for the national Youth Games, but the office of the Accountant General did not release the funds. These games started on the 13th of October but Bauchi State contingents left the state for Ilorin, Kwara state, Saturday morning and arrived Sunday morning, which was 48 hours to the closure of the event.

“On getting there, some of our contingents were stopped from participating in the games because their games had already reached an advanced stage. And the ones they were able to participate in, they couldn’t do anything because they were late and crippled with the fatigue from the journey. It was only the Basketball male contingents that won silver medals.

“According to them (officials), they were able to borrow money from the office of the SSG, just a little amount of money so that the state will participate because if the state didn’t come, they will be banned from participating for some years and they will be fined.

“It was because of these that they came with that little amount for the fuelling of the vehicles and they gave them little allowances,” Ibn-Mohammed said.

He added, “In fact, when we arrived there, because we got there late, it was only four rooms that were allocated to the over 60 contingents including the athletes and their officials. So many people were sleeping in the car.”

According to him, after the games were concluded on Tuesday, they were to take off 9.00am Wednesday morning, but when it was time, the drivers said they would not move until all their allowances were paid to them in full.”