The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has directed Heartland FC to pay ₦6.4 million in compensation to coach Charles Uzor for the unlawful termination of his contract.
The decision was delivered by the NFF Players’ Status and Arbitration Committee after reviewing submissions from both parties.
Uzor had signed a two-year contract with the Nigeria National League side on August 1, 2024, reportedly earning ₦700,000 per month. However, his appointment was terminated on June 11, 2025, without what the committee determined to be just cause or adherence to due process.
The coach initially sought ₦8.4 million, representing the value of the remainder of his contract. Following deliberations, the committee awarded ₦6.4 million as compensation and ordered Heartland to settle the amount within 45 days of receiving the ruling.
The NFF further warned that failure to comply with the directive would result in a transfer and player registration ban being imposed on the club.
The ruling underscores the federation’s commitment to enforcing contractual obligations and maintaining professional standards within Nigerian football.
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.
