…Calls for probe of Company.
by Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Following protracted public outcry over New Nigeria Development Company (NNDC)’s slow and agonizing litany of bureaucracy in the payment of New Nigerian Newspaper (NNN) workers’ benefits as approved by Northern Governors, group under the auspices of ‘Arewa Youths Movement for Good Governance’ (AYMGG), has carpeted NNDC.
Rising from its expanded Regional Executive Meeting in Kaduna on Tuesday, the group lambasted the NNDC for what it termed, “institutional wickedness” for failure to comply with directives with Northern Governors Forum to pay New Nigerian Newspapers workers for over 100 days after approval.
Speaking with newsmen on behalf of the group, the North West Coordinator, Comrade Ibrahim Ahmadu, said “If not wickedness, we are reliably aware that there was an official letter from the Chairman Northern Governors Forum, who is the sitting Governor of Gombe State, Dr. Inuwa Yahaya, directing the transfer of the NNN beneficiaries’ fund to the management of NNN for immediate payment.
“We also know that NCPL (Northern Capital Properties limited), a subsidiary of NNDC, wrote a letter to NNN requesting for account details – remember, NNN is of equal status with NNDC because NNN is not a subsidiary of NNDC but directly owned by the 19 Northern Governors as well; NNDC is only involved because their subsidiary NCPL was awarded the contract of selling New Nigerian Newspapers’ properties for payment.
“Now, after that letter was sent to NNN in compliance with Northern Governors, NNDC went behind and wrote Northern Governors demanding to pay New Nigerian Newspapers workers directly, instead of transferring the bulk money to New Nigerian Newspapers to pay her workers.
“Again, Northern Governors graciously granted that approval. Now, instead of NNDC to comply, they started fresh screening of New Nigerian Newspapers workers – an exercise that lasted for two months, after which they paid only 177 workers and abandoned over 200. They also hijacked all statutory deductions like check-off dues and many others. So, you see why NNDC is wickedly killing Northern Nigeria. This was the same thing they did to Hamadala Hotel workers.
“The questions are, is NNDC bigger than Northern Governors? Or is New Nigerian Newspapers now under NNDC? NNDC is aware that 111 workers have already died waiting for this money. Does NNDC want everybody in New Nigerian Newspapers to die before they will pay? If NNDC has no capacity, why did they demand to pay NNN workers directly?
“Does it mean NNDC expended that money in NCPL’s account on other things without Northern Governors’ approval?” Ahmadu lamented.
“We are calling on the Northern Governors Forum, led by Gombe State Governor, Dr. Inuwa Yahaya, to direct NNDC to immediately release all New Nigerian Newspapers workers benefits to the Company for immediate payment. Secondly, to immediately set up a probe panel on NNDC and immediately ask the entire management team and board to step aside.
“We are sure the governors will discover cans of warms in the NNDC. We will be mobilizing all our youths in North West and North East, especially in Gombe to march to the Governors very soon,” he added.
Recall that, the initial breakdown of NNN benefits before the payments to 177 workers were: Outstanding Salaries of *N1,474,143,669.30; Gratuities of N661,050, 385.91; Contract allowances of N7,507,959.53; 3 months in-lieu of notice amounting to N21,080,699.13; Existing Staff outstanding salaries of N87,491,724.09; Statutory deductions of N81,872,906.99, which is now hijacked by NNDC; Trade partners/suppliers bill of N 37,069,055.00 and tax liability of N134,278,880.44, totaling N2,504,495,2880.44.
Meanwhile, sources confirmed that over 7 Billion Naira had been raked-in, after NNDC through its subsidiary NCPL got the mandate to sell New Nigerian Newspapers properties for the sole aim of paying New Nigerian Newspapers beneficiaries.