Lafia – Gov. Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa on Thursday said the government had paid N34.9 million as sign-on fees to the state female football club, Nasarawa Amazons for the 2013/2014 season.

Al-Makura made the disclosure in Lafia during the celebration of the nation’s 15th Democracy Day.

The Nasarawa Amazons recently emerged as the 2013 Nigeria National Women League champions.

According to him, the raise in the sign-on fees from N29 million to N34 million is to encourage the team to continue to reach for greater heights.

“We are using this occasion to honour our beautiful queens of Nasarawa State, the Amazons, for becoming the best team of the women league. They are the champions of the national women league.

“We want to reward them so that they can continue to achieve great feats not only for Nasarawa State but for Nigeria as a whole.

“On this note, I want to recognise by paying the sum of N34 million as their sign-on fees,” he said.

Al-Makura also revealed that he had approved the salary increment of the players and staff of Nasarawa Amazons with immediate effect to boost their morale.

“Also, I have already approved the increment of their salaries so that we can boost their morale,” he said.

Mr Audu Nuhu, Chairman of the state female football team, said that the state government paid N29 million only in 2013 as sign-on fees and thanked the governor for increasing it to N34 million.

Mr Christopher Danjuma, Chief Coach of Nasarawa Amazons, also expressed joy at the governor’s gesture and promised to replicate the same success in the new season. (NAN)