Former national boxing great Jerry Okorodudu has pleaded with the sports ministry to pay him his salary arrears. Okorodudu, who represented the country at the Los Angeles ’84 Olympic Games, claimed he is being owed nine months’ salary by the ministry.
The News Agency of Nigeria that Okorodudu, a 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games bronze medalist, also in 2016 begged the ministry to pay him his 14 months’ salary.
The matter was later resolved, and he got his salary arrears then.
Okorodudu told NAN in Lagos on Monday the situation had deprived him of providing for his family.
The national boxing team assistant coach said, “For the past nine months, the sports ministry has been owing me salary, and I don’t know the reason why I have not been paid.
“I have travelled to Abuja and written letters to the ministry, but nothing is forthcoming; I can no longer feed my family and cater for my children’s education.
“A similar thing happened in 2016 where I petitioned the ministry and the court ordered them to pay me the 14 months’ salary they owed me as at then.’’
The former boxer, who also won two gold at the African Championship in 1982, said he had been treated badly, despite his contribution to national development.
He said, “My pensionable job in the ministry was changed to a contract; the Nigeria Boxing Federation has also sidelined me by removing me from every competition.
“I represented this country well as an athlete and a coach, but it is a pity that this is happening to me and other former sportsmen and women in the country.’’
Okorodudu, who launched into professional boxing in 1985, participated in the Africa Boxing Championships and clinched two medals for Nigeria.
He won gold in the 1979 National Sports Festival and he was in the 1980’s the national lightweight champion for many years in the amateur category.
–punchng.com
Former national boxing great Jerry Okorodudu has pleaded with the sports ministry to pay him his salary arrears. Okorodudu, who represented the country at the Los Angeles ’84 Olympic Games, claimed he is being owed nine months’ salary by the ministry.
The News Agency of Nigeria that Okorodudu, a 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games bronze medalist, also in 2016 begged the ministry to pay him his 14 months’ salary.
The matter was later resolved, and he got his salary arrears then.
Okorodudu told NAN in Lagos on Monday the situation had deprived him of providing for his family.
The national boxing team assistant coach said, “For the past nine months, the sports ministry has been owing me salary, and I don’t know the reason why I have not been paid.
“I have travelled to Abuja and written letters to the ministry, but nothing is forthcoming; I can no longer feed my family and cater for my children’s education.
“A similar thing happened in 2016 where I petitioned the ministry and the court ordered them to pay me the 14 months’ salary they owed me as at then.’’
The former boxer, who also won two gold at the African Championship in 1982, said he had been treated badly, despite his contribution to national development.
He said, “My pensionable job in the ministry was changed to a contract; the Nigeria Boxing Federation has also sidelined me by removing me from every competition.
“I represented this country well as an athlete and a coach, but it is a pity that this is happening to me and other former sportsmen and women in the country.’’
Okorodudu, who launched into professional boxing in 1985, participated in the Africa Boxing Championships and clinched two medals for Nigeria.
He won gold in the 1979 National Sports Festival and he was in the 1980’s the national lightweight champion for many years in the amateur category.
–punchng.com
