Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has stopped the payment of registration fee by communities wishing to participate in the proposed community-based football tournament in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Okorocha’s order came on the heels of a public outcry against the payment of N20,000 fee as directed by the Ministry of Youths and Sports.
Mr Eze Ude, the Chief Executive Officer of Kreation Sports Concept, a sports management outfit which is organising the event in conjunction with the ministry, said that at least 600 communities would be involved.
Ude told NAN on Thursday that no less than 150 communities had already paid and registered for the month-long tournament slated to commence by the end of October.
Commenting on the negative public reaction, one of the governor’s aide told NAN, on condition of anonymity, that “the fee did not receive the governor’s blessing.
“There is no way the governor would approve such a proposal for communities to pay N20,000 before they can participate in a tournament being organised by the state government.
“The governor did not only order the commissioner to stop the unwarranted fee, he also ordered him to immediately refund communities that have paid.
He explained that the tournament was being organised as part of the strategies by the administration for talent hunt to give “our footballers in the communities the opportunity to showcase their talents.
“So, the governor has said repeatedly that participation in the competition is free,” he said.
Confirming the governor’s directive, the Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Mr Kenneth Emedu, said that the ministry had stopped the collection of the registration fee.
“We have told interested communities to stop the payment of the registration fee,” Emedu said.
, adding that “we will even refund communities that have already paid“Since this administration is on a rescue mission, government would organise the tournament and communities do not have to pay.”
NAN reports that the coordinators of the tournament in the 27 local government areas of the state had earlier complained to the commissioner that the communities were averse to the fee, which was initially fixed at N30,000.
The amount was subsequently reviewed downward to N20,000 at a meeting between the commissioner and the coordinators at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri, shortly before they were inaugurated in September. (NAN)