The Lagos State chapter of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) is furious with the management of Champion Newspapers for owing staff and members of the union salary arrears in excess of 24 months and making little or no efforts to pay the wage bill.
Speaking at the monthly congress at the weekend, Chairman of the union, Mr. Deji Elumoye expressed disappointment with management of Champion Newspapers for spending millions in putting up an award for the month of April, during which it hopes to make Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State Governor of the year.
The Chairman said the union has no problem with the receiving governor but the newspaper who has so much to spend on an award and yet not willing to pay staff who are already living in penury.
“I assure you that the award will not hold, we will disrupt it, if they like they should take it to Imo State, home of the publisher, we will be there. We will carry placards”, the chairman threatened in annoyance, adding that the union has been patience enough with the management in the last 24 months and can no longer bear with them.
“Do they want our members to die before they start paying?”. We gathered that the local union has been on work-to-rule in the past one month but management of the newspaper has been able to employ hunger as tactics to lure many production staff to assist it to produce the newspaper hence its intermittent appearance on the news stand.
