Barring any last minute intervention by the Imo may not stop from its steep down the oblivion as some of the best talents in the broadcast journalism are on their way out of the station.
This follows non-payment of 13 months salary arrears to some staff of the corporation by the state government.
According to an extensive investigation by 247ureports.com, not less than 7 professionals working with the media house have not received salaries since January, 2014.
The salaries of the pressmen some of whom have left the erstwhile vibrant media house was stopped when government ordered the revalidation of staff of the government owned parastatal, which is under the state ministry of information and strategy.
Some of the affected persons have been on a permanent engagement with the establishment and have worked in observance of full civil service standards, including increment notice. Others are contracted by the management as guest artistes.
Further findings showed that some government officials who are aware of the unpaid salaries pledged to resolve the matter, a promise which at the time of this report has not been met.
Though some of the aggrieved artistes have stuck with the operators of Orient television and radio station, but investigations showed that the cash trapped talents have had to depend on their families and friends to survive in the hope that reprieve will come their way soon.
A highly placed official of the ministry who reacted to the claims, however, refuted any claim that any of the workers under the ministry are being owed salaries. ‘The only outstanding salary owed IBC staff is for the month just ended’ the official said.
