Commissioner presenting cash reward to some medalists in his office
Borno Government has rewarded athletes and coaches that won medals at the 2023 National Sports Festival and National Youth Games held in Delta State with cash.
Also rewarded are some staff of the Borno State Sports Council for their respective roles in the success story.
Speaking at the ceremony in Maiduguri on Monday, the state Commissioner of Youths and Sports, Alhaji Saina Buba, said the gesture approved by Gov. Babagana Zulum who released N7m to be splashed on the athletes was to thank them and boost their morale.
Buba reiterated the commitment of the state government to sports development, adding that the ministry would recruit indigent athletes this year from the grassroots in order to catch them young.
He said that the ministry was committed to ensuring that in next games or festivals, 90 to 95 per cent of those representing the state were indigents.
Speaking at the occasion, the coach for badminton whose boys won silver, lauded the gesture which he said would ginger them to do more and aim for gold in the tournament.
Also speaking on behalf of the recipients, Abubakar Haruna, a hockey player whose team won silver at youth games, expressed gratitude and urged government to employ them on contract to enable them concentrate for better result in future games.
Borno won the medals in Hockey, Badminton, Golf and Shooting among others.
Coaches that won gold were given N200,000 each while athletes received N150,000, 100,000 and N50,000 for gold, silver and bronze respectively.
Other officials including medical team that accompanied the athletes to Asaba for the tournament got between N100,000 to N50,000.
Meanwhile, the commissioner in a meeting with staff of the sport council tasked them on discipline and promptness to work.
He directed the Executive Secretary of the council to open a register of attendance to be signed daily by staff whenever they arrive for work and while leaving office.
He chided the attitude of some staff who absconded from work or reject deployment, warning that the ministry would not tolerate that henceforth.
The commissioner who cited the case of a woman who relocated to Kaduna but was collecting salary for years before action was taken said such abused won’t be tolerated and tasked the Sport Council Executive Secretary to check such abuse.
