…Says, over 100 staffs died awaiting benefits.
…Gives 14 days’ ultimatum.
by Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Workers and pensioners of New Nigerian Newspapers (northern Nigerian newspapers company workers) on Tuesday took to the streets in protest over nonpayment of their benefits allegedly amounting to over N2.1 billion.
The protest occurred after the 19 Northern States Governors had already reportedly given directives in 2016 to settle the workers’ backlog benefits failed to materialize.
The protest address presented was jointly signed by Comrade Amos Matthew, who is Chairman Press Committee, and Comrade Nicholas Dekera, who is the Treasurer of Nigerian Union of Journalists, Kaduna State Council, and Secretary Press Committee.
The duo stated that “As at today, more than 90% of the properties have been sold and over 2.7 billion naira realized, with some of these properties fully acquired and renovation works has also commenced, citing example of the popular Nagwamatse House, in the heart of Kaduna City.
The money, the leaders of the protester said, was also allegedly kept inside the same account of the management, which “have been garnished,” according to the committee.
It recalled that, in 2023 after PTAD verified and begun payment of monthly pensions, the duo of Barrister Iweka and Idi Sule returned to court over an initial out-of-court settlement item-check up dues.
“The Federal High Court in May 2022 garnished the GT Bank account, Number 0605091406, with account name “New Capital Properties Ltd” where all monies realized for sales of properties were lodged into.
“The garnishee was vacated, but again the management and the committee failed to pay workers’ benefits even with express orders from former Kaduna SSG to present documents for onward approval and payments.
“On July 14, 2022, a second garnishee was served on the same account. However, the Claimant counsel before the Honorable Judge confirmed that there was only N20 million in the garnished account, whereas the total lodgement as at that time was over N700 million,” they said.
According to the statement, “The question now is, what happened to the balance; who withdrew the money and for what purpose was the money withdrawn was never answered by the committee and the NNN management.”
They pointed out that Northern Governors Forum, headed by the then Chairman Northern Governors’ Forum, Senator Kashim Shettima (now Nigeria’s Vice President) “On Friday, 29th April, 2016, at General Hassan Usman Katsina House, Kawo-Kaduna, approved that Public Private Partnership.
“And they split the company into three (3), which include newspaper production, printing and publishing in commercial quantities and commercial properties and total liquidation of the company and all its landed properties across the country to settle its liabilities once and for all.
“The Congress called on the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, and Northern Governors Forum to compel the management of New Nigerian Newspapers to immediately pay workers all their entitlements without further delay, threatening to occupy all sold properties after 14 days’ ultimatum.”