Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, has directed the Commissioner for Sports, Surajo Yazid Abuku, alongside the management of Katsina United, to urgently resolve issues surrounding unpaid player salaries in order to halt what he described as ongoing embarrassment to the state.
According to a reliable source, the governor expressed displeasure over the backlash and negative media reports linked to the salary situation and demanded immediate action.
Investigations revealed that while existing players have been receiving their salaries, a number of newly signed players are yet to be placed on the payroll, reportedly due to incomplete biodata documentation—a key requirement for salary processing.
Despite the challenges, the management and coaching crew, led by Abdulazeez Mohamed, have continued working behind the scenes to keep the squad focused and competitive. However, tensions reportedly reached a boiling point during Katsina United’s recent home match against Bendel Insurance, when players almost boycotted the fixture before eventually being persuaded to play. The team went on to lose the match.
Sources further disclosed that the affected players have now been assured that all outstanding payments will be cleared soon, as steps are taken to regularise their documentation and place them on the payroll.
The state government is expected to monitor the situation closely to ensure a swift and lasting resolution.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
