The twentieth anniversary of THISDAY Newspapers scheduled for Saturday September 5, 2015 may flop, DAILY POST can authoritatively report today.

This is as the Nigerian Union of Journalist (NUJ) has given the owner of the publication and media mogul, Mr Nduka Obiagbena, till close of work on Friday September 4, to pay outstanding staff salaries or face its wrath.

Copy of a letter sent to Mr Obaigbena Tuesday afternoon was exclusively obtained by DAILY POST last night.

Signed by Mr Abdulwaheed Odusile, NUJ National President, the letter reminded THISDAY publisher of the promise he made at his Lagos residence to clear two months arrears of workers who are already finding it hard to survive.

Lamenting the refusal to honour the gentleman truce the two parties reached, leader of Nigerian journalists said the union would strike in a severe manner.

It also gave indication that it would prevail on the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to jointly assist the NUJ to frustrate by Mr Obaigbena event which holds this weekend.

The letter signed by Mr Odusile and titled ‘Outstanding salaries of workers (NUJ members)’ reads:

“Chairman/Publisher,
THISDAY Newspapers

“Recall our meeting at your residence in Lagos on Monday August 24, 2015 on the above subject matter and your promise to pay two months out of the arrears being owed the senior staff and to pay the junior staff up to the end of August 2015 before the 20th anniversary of THISDAY coming up on September 5.

“You also promised to pay the rest in installment of two months per tranche, with a firm commitment to offset all outstanding salary arrears on or before December 31st, 2015, including verified check-off deductions due to the NUJ.

“Information reaching us indicates that up till this moment (3.45 pm) on Wednesday September 2, 2015, nobody has been paid in spite of your promise and preparations are on to hold the 20th anniversary celebration.

“Please be informed that if by 2 pm on Friday September 4, 2015, the salary arrears were not paid as promised and confirmed by our members, the NUJ will mobilize the entire Labour (NLC and TUC) to disrupt the anniversary celebration wherever you decide to hold it.

“This is neither a threat nor a boast, but we will no longer allow you to toy with the lives of our members again.

“We wish you and THISDAY well.”

Part-payment

DAILY POST recalls that two months ago, THISDAY Newspapers paid three months’ salary arrears of its staff who were initially owed for over eight months.

The payment was in response to a protest by the Lagos Council of the NUJ on July 7.

The union officials, who carried placards and barricaded the headquarters of the organisation in Apapa, condemned the continuous failure of media organisations to pay salaries of their workers, especially journalists.

During the protest, Mr Deji Elumoye, NUJ Lagos State Chairman disclosed that there were 12 other media houses that were not paying workers their wages.

Explaining why he led the picketing of THISDAY Newspaper, Elumoye stated: “I am an associate editor in THISDAY, that is why I chose to picket THISDAY first.

“There are other media organisations owing over two years and we will go to all of them. It is time to put a stop to non-payment of salaries in the media organisations.

“Many families cannot pay their house rent or pay their children’s school fees. The journalists are paid peanuts, yet they do not get the salaries. It is sad.”

At that protest, he urged Mr Obaigbena to pay his workers all their outstanding entitlements including, taxes, pension, co-operative and check off dues accrued in the last four years.

It is still unclear if the salaries being demanded by the NLC covers other entitlements Mr Elumoyed listed.

Interestingly, Mr Obaigbena is the President of Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria.

His mobile line was off when our correspondent called to seek his reaction late Tuesday night.

As at July, such organisations include DAAR Communications, owners of African Independent Television (AIT) and Ray Power (17 months salary arrears).

Others were Independent Newspapers Limited, publishers of Daily Independent (9 months salary arrears), and Tell Magazine (8 months salary arrears); National Mirror and Newswatch Daily (7 months salary arrears), both owned by Jimoh Ibrahim.

Also on the list were The News/PM News (nine months); Daily Champion (18 months salary arrears); Hallmark owned by Emeka Obasi (8 months salary arrears) and the Daily Times (6 months salary arrears).

Findings by DAILY POST revealed that nearly all the organisations paid outstanding salaries of some months.

However, it was gathered that none is yet to fully pay its staff.