The National Sports Commission (NSC) has announced an upward review of performance bonuses and instant cash rewards for Nigerian athletes competing at the ongoing Commonwealth Games.
NSC Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, said the enhanced incentive package was approved to further motivate Team Nigeria athletes as they continue their campaign at the Games.
According to Dikko, athletes who win gold medals will now receive a total reward of $10,000, comprising a $5,000 instant cash payment and an additional $5,000 paid directly into their bank accounts.
Silver medalists will receive $5,000 in total, made up of $2,000 as an instant cash reward and $3,000 paid into their accounts.
Bronze medal winners will earn $3,000, with $1,000 paid immediately in cash and the remaining $2,000 transferred to their accounts.
Dikko explained that the revised package improves on the commission’s earlier incentive structure, under which gold medalists were entitled to $8,000, consisting of a $3,000 instant cash reward and $5,000 paid into their accounts.
He said the decision to increase the bonuses was reached after meeting Team Nigeria athletes in Aberdeen.
“During a brief meeting with the Director General, we agreed to increase the athletes’ bonuses,” Dikko said.
“After meeting the team in Aberdeen, I decided to increase the instant cash reward to $5,000 as added motivation for all gold medal hopefuls.”
The NSC chairman also clarified that the revised payments have already taken effect.
According to him, the three Nigerian athletes who won gold medals on the previous day have each received the full $10,000 reward, contrary to earlier reports that they would receive $8,000.
He added that the two gold medalists crowned on the latest day of competition, as well as the silver medalists, have also received their respective instant cash rewards of $5,000 and $2,000.
