The Lagos State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists NUJ led by Dr. Qasim Akinreti Friday evening backed the unpaid and impoverished staff of Champion Newspapers Limited on protest against years of denial of their salaries and other entitlements by the management, disrupting the planned glamorous Champion Award night at the Oriental Hotel, Lekki.
PRESS RELEASE: Unpaid 54 months salaries: NUJ leads Champion staff to protest
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Lagos State Council on Friday, led the former staff of Champion Newspapers to protest at Oriental Hotels, Victoria Island, Lagos, venue of 2020 Champion Newspapers Excellence Awards, over unpaid 54 months salary arrears.
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”
It would be recalled 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 Air Peace, the GMD of Zenith Bank, Seplat and Globacom among others.
The aggrieved staff decided to stage the protest after having exploited all gentlemanly avenues to make the insensitive, thick-skinned management show some humane empathy and pay the staff back for their longsuffering dedication and loyalty in service to no avail.
