Protest in Akure over unpaid athletes allowances

Athletes on Thursday protested the non-payment of their allowances by the Ondo State Government in Akure.

The placard-carrying protesters claimed that they were being owed 17 months allowances.

It was gathered that the protesting athletes prevented the free flow of traffic as they marched from the Oba-Adesida road to the Ondo State Accountant General's office.

Our correspondent gathered the National Youth Games unpaid allowances were among the causes of the protest.

While the state Commissioner for Sports and Youths Development, Mr. Dotun Owanikin, had claimed that no allowance was owed, the athletes and officials said they've not been paid.

The athletes earlier protested non-payment of allowances at the NYG, which held at the University of Ilorin between September 7 and 17.

During the protest at the NYG, they also complained that they competed in starvation due to lack of funds.