The workers also demanded that the benefits of deceased colleagues must be paid immediately. Three weeks ago, the Managing Director, Mr Ted Iwere, stormed the company with armed policemen to lock out the workers.
The Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos State Council, Mr Deji Elumoye, said: “We’re here to hold protest against the non-payment of salaries of workers in Daily Independent Newspaper.
We won’t allow any so-called management to open the company until all outstanding payments are made. Such as the unpaid 25 months’ salaries, remittance of all the deductions, including tax deductions, which are supposed to be remitted to Lagos State, cooperative deductions and pension fund (PENCOM).” Elumoye said that some members of the organisation were sacked without reason and still were not paid their benefits.
The aggrieved workers alleged that the management stole N6 million cooperative fund and that deceased colleagues’ entitlements were not paid to their next of kin or families. It was gathered that families of late workers repeatedly went to the company, requesting for their kin’s entitlements, but they were sent away.
The Chairman of the National Union of Printing, Publishing and Paper Products Workers (NUPPPPROW) in the organisation, Mr Emmanuel Nwachukwu, said the purpose of the rally was to force the owner of this company to rescue the business from Iwere.
He said: “Our intention is also to make sure we collect salaries of dead colleagues to give to their family members. We are waiting for the management to come out and tell us the person that would pay us. Failure to comply will determine our next line of action.”
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