By JOE APU
Lagos, Nigeria – Prince Harrison Jalla, a prominent player rights advocate and union leader, has condemned the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the National Sports Commission (NSC) for what he described as a shameful display of neglect during the final rites of former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Peter Rufai.
In a strongly worded statement, Jalla expressed outrage that no principal officers from either the NFF or NSC were present at any of the four major events held in honour of the late football icon. These included the Service of Songs, the Funeral Mass, the Lying-in-State at Onikan Stadium, and the final interment at Ikoyi Cemetery.
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“For someone who served Nigeria with distinction, Peter Rufai deserved far more than the silence and absence of those charged with managing our sports sector,” Jalla said. “The failure of the NFF President and the NSC Chairman to show up is both disrespectful and unacceptable.”
According to Jalla, the lack of presence and proper representation not only disrespects Rufai’s legacy but also reflects a deeper crisis in Nigerian sports administration—one where athletes are celebrated in their prime but abandoned in retirement or death.
“What we are seeing is not just a personal failure, but institutional failure. It tells a sad story about how we treat our heroes,” Jalla stated. “This indifference must stop.”
Jalla also criticized what he described as the NFF’s token donation of ₦3 million to the families of Rufai and another legend, Christian Chukwu, calling it an insult given the substantial inflows the federation receives from FIFA and CAF.
“It is shameful that while a staff member in the NFF reportedly earns $10,000 a month, only ₦3 million was deemed appropriate for families of legends who brought pride to this country,” he said. “There should be a structured welfare system for our past heroes—not handouts.”
The PFAN leader reiterated the need for a functional, legally backed collective bargaining agreement between PFAN and the NFF, which would ensure professional financial management of player welfare and eliminate what he termed the “embarrassment” of players being neglected after their service.
He called on Shehu Dikko, who heads the NSC, to step up and take leadership in restoring the image of the Federal Government in sports.
“The Federal Government has shown goodwill through financial rewards and national honours to female footballers and basketball players, but poor leadership in the sports sector is undermining those efforts,” Jalla said.
Despite the shortcomings of official bodies, Jalla commended groups and individuals who stepped up to support the Rufai family, including PFAN.
the Lagos Legends Club, the Lagos State Government (which approved ₦15 million for the family), and former Lagos FA Chairman, Waidi Akanni, who was instrumental in organizing a dignified burial.
He also acknowledged the emotional reactions of ex-players like Taribo West and Etim Esin, describing them as the natural result of years of marginalization.
“Those outbursts were from the heart,” Jalla noted. “No group of professionals will remain oppressed and voiceless forever.”
He concluded by calling on current and retired players to unite under PFAN, stressing that only a strong, independent players’ union could push for the reforms urgently needed in Nigerian football.
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