NUJ leads Champion staff to protest over unpaid 54 months salaries - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

For unpaid 54 months salary arrears, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Lagos State Council on Friday, led former staff of Champion Newspapers to protest at Oriental Hotels, Victoria Island, Lagos, venue of 2020 Champion Newspapers Excellence Awards, reports ITREALMS.

The protest against the management of the Newspapers was led by the Council Chairman, Dr. Quasim Akinreti as well as the National Trustee of the Union, Mr. Sylva Okereke.

It was gathered that as the protest was going on, the management of Champion Newspapers threatened to arrest the Council chairman and his team of protesters, who were unperturbed over the threats by the police and management of the hotel. 

The protesters claimed that the Publisher of the Newspapers, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu and the Managing Director of the Company, Mrs. Nwadiuto Ihekanwa have been considered very insensitive to the plights of the past and present staff of the company, as over 25 staff have so far died due to non-payment of over four years salaries. 

It was gathered that despite selling the property of Champion Newspapers to Promasidor company for N2.5 billion, the heartless management refused to pay the over N100m owed to the staff. Protesters were seen carrying placards with inscriptions, "No Pay, no award! Madam, You're Wicked!! You have enslaved our members!!!

Others read in part, “Champion management you're heartless! Pay us our money" and “Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu enslaved our members.”

ITREALMS recalls that the 2020 Champion Newspapers Excellence Award was expected to attract at least two governors, including Governors Ayade and Ugwuanyi. Other recipients include, the CEO Airpeace, the GMD of Zenith Bank, Seplat and Globacom among others.

Chuks Egbune/DoP

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Dana pilots go on strike, flights cancelled

ITRealms:

For non-payment of their salaries, the pilots in the employ of Dana Airlines have embarked on an indefinite strike, leading to cancellation of flights, reports ITRealms.
As a result of the strike which began on Thursday, the airline’s operations have come to a halt, leading to suspension of flights, and passengers stranded at various airports across the country.

At the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, announcements were made occasionally to communicate the development to customers waiting to board flights, especially on Dana.

ITRealms gathered that the spokesperson of the airline, Kingsley Ezenwa, said that the management was working hard to resolve the crisis and restore normal operations.

Okoli Vincent/GEE

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Alert! Gov. Ayade surprises, pays May salary on workers day

ITRealms:

The politics of May Day workers celebration climaxed this year with the Cross River State Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade surprised workers on the 1st of May, Workers Day, when he announced the payment of salaries for the month of May on the first day of the month, reports ITRealms.

This was obviously affirmed a slight drama when workers at the U.J. Esuene Stadium for the May Day celebration began to receive salary payment alert from their various banks.

Additional reports showed that the workers out of excitement started shouting 'alert, alert' as they commended the governor.

ITRealms gathered that hitherto, the governor had paid salaries between the 13th and 20th day of each month since assuming office.

Governor Ayade also told the workers, who named him the 'Best Labour Friendly Governor in Nigeria' that his administration had a duty to give workers a sense of dignity.

“We must create opportunities for labour to feel a sense of dignity. If you are truly a Christian, you must know that as you care for your kids, you must care for labour,” he said.

ITRealms equally reports that another goodnews is that workers in the Edo State civil and public got cheering news during the May Day celebration as their salaries were increased.

It was further gathered that workers' salaries were increased by 45 per cent, which is the minimum wage is now N25,000.

Vincent Okoli with additional reports by EkitiOnline/GEE

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Osun promises to pay workers before Easter

ITRealms:

Reacting to criticism of his government over strikes and alleged delays in payment of salaries, the Government of Osun on Sunday debunked insinuations of no plans to pay workers salaries, saying workers will receive their salaries this week, before Easter, reports ITRealms.

This is coming as the state would says, its not deterred by the dwindling Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) it received the N6million federal allocation that accrued to it in February.

A press statement made available to ITRealms by the Bureau of Communication and Strategy in the Office of the Governor, signed by its Director, Semiu Okanlawon, the Government of Osun assured workers in the state that the administration had weathered the storm to pay salaries up to December.

The government also said its executing with the support of all stakeholders, including the workers, a well-mapped out strategy for ensuring that workers are not made to pay more price for the dwindling allocation than they have done.

Okanlawon explained that considerably reduced Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocation is no more news to the State, noting they received less than N150 million from October till date, due to the repayment obligations for the infrastructure programmes it has been prosecuting.

“In spite of the heavy obligations, Osun has paid more than N5billion in salaries between the same periods,” he assured.

According to him, FAAC is not only source of revenue to the State, and the commendable support of workers have allowed us to stretch our reserves and other sources to pay workers on mutually agreed terms as well as fulfill our development promises to the majority of the people.

“As at today, the process for the payment of January salaries is at the final stages. Osun workers will receive their salaries from this week in preparation for Easter holidays,” he disclosed.

 

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FG denies austere package for Ministers

ITRealms:

The Federal Government (FG) has denied tampering with the salaries and allowances of the newly sworn-in Ministers, reports ITRealms.

The Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu in a press statement made available to ITRealms said that such story making around in the media, said no one especially President Muhammadu Buhari has not tampered with the salaries and allowances of the Federal Ministers.

ITRealms recalls that a section of the media has reported that barely three weeks in office, President Muhammadu Buhari shocked the new ministers with poor salaries and austere allowances.

According to the reports, while the substantive minister will earn N2,026,400 annual basic salary($8,514.285), Minister of State is to get N1.8million($7,563.025) per annum. Other  highlights of the conditions as reported include “Estacode Allowance($900 per diem); Duty Tour Allowance(N35,000); Utilities Allowance(Telephone/ Electricity/ Water)–30% of Annual Basic Salary (N607,920); Domestic Staff Allowance(75% -((N1,519,800) of Annual Basic Salary; Medical Facilities (in accordance with NHIS Policy);  Special Assistant (To be provided in kind); Security (To be provided in kind); Air Travel (By Business Class); Newspaper Allowance (15% of  Annual Basic Salary-N303,960).”

But as said by the spokesperson to President Buhari, “They (salaries and allowances) remain as have been prescribed by the Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Commission under a law passed in 2008.”

Garba also noted that the President and the Vice President have voluntarily offered a 50 per cent salary cut, which does not apply to Ministers or other political appointees.

“This is voluntary and does not apply to Ministers and other political appointees,” he declared, insisting that reports to the effect that the President has imposed an austere package on the ministers are unknown to the Federal Government. 

“The administration has not tampered with the salaries of ministers and that remain as prescribed under the law,” Garba maintained. 

+Remmy Nweke (ITRealms) 
 

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‘Peter Ogiero committed suicide,’ no he died of stroke - Bayelsa Government

 ITRealms

Contrary to reports that a civil servant, Mr. Peter Ogiero, committed suicide because of unpaid salaries, the Bayelsa State Government has denied it, saying that the man died of stroke, ITRealms gathered.

The government quoted a family source as revealing that "the deceased was suffering from partial paralysis, which was responsible for his death."

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Bayelsa State, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said there is no iota of truth in the story, ITRealms reports.

Iworiso-Markson said the report was a calculated attempt by the All Progressives Congress, (APC and its cronies to score cheap political points ahead of the forthcoming governorship election scheduled for December 5.

"Bayelsa is one of the few states in the country that remains committed to the welfare of its workers, stressing that, it is on record that, the present administration was not owing workers. Governor Henry Seriake Dickson has ordered the immediate payment of September salaries to the entire workforce, despite the dwindling allocation from the federation account, he said.

Cyriacus Nnaji/GEE

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