Referees in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) will see a significant boost in their earnings for the 2024/25 season, set to kick off this Saturday.
The NPFL board has announced a 50% pay raise for match officials, alongside the introduction of new communication gadgets.
This pay increase fulfills a promise made by NPFL board chairman Gbenga Elegbeleye at the end of last season.
Sani Zubairu, President of the Nigeria Referees Association (NRA), confirmed on Tuesday that referees are currently undergoing training in preparation for the new season. “We are training to familiarize the referees with the new equipment. It will be used by all four referees in all 380 NPFL matches, as well as Federation Cup games,” Zubairu told PUNCH Sports Extra.
Zubairu emphasized that the new gadgets will improve referee performance, noting that officials using advanced technology have an edge over those who do not. He also mentioned that more high-performance equipment is expected to be provided in the future.
The training sessions for referees are being held in batches in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
In addition to the new gadgets, referees will receive increased match indemnities for the second time in the past year. Zubairu highlighted that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is committed to ensuring the welfare of referees, acknowledging that motivation is crucial for their performance.
A top official from one of the NPFL’s partner organizations revealed that referee earnings are partly determined by the distance they travel to match venues. "We spend nearly 10 million Naira on match officials every match day. The minimum amount a referee can earn is between N150,000 and N200,000 per match, covering transport and feeding,” the official explained.
The official added that accommodations for referees are booked 48 hours before their arrival at match venues, with transport and feeding allowances paid in cash before they depart. "Things have changed; it’s not like before," the official noted.
This payment structure remains in place, even with the recent pay increase.
