Some members of Nigerian Union of
Journalists, NUJ, gate-crashed and disrupted the ongoing 5th Energy Group GMD
Conference, holding at the Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja, Nigeria on Monday morning.
The protesters, who stormed the hall
while Jimoh Ibrahim was taking on his staff on a strategy lecture, launched
into protest songs, demanding for their 14-month salary arrears. For 15
minutes, the drama was beamed live on AIT.
Appearing unfazed in spite of
Ibrahim’s attempt to bully them by calling for security operatives to move them
out, the protesters demanded that they would not bulge and the confab would not
continue unless Ibrahim or his representatives dialogue with them.
Speaking after the protesters have
been convinced to have a meeting with some of the Group executives, Ibrahim
said he has no apologies owing the staff because they failed to generate their
income after he had given them all the wherewithal, yet they expected him to
get loans to pay their salaries.
“I cannot borrow to pay their
salaries. It is not sustainable,” Ibrahim said. According to him, it’s only the
media section of 16 companies in his conglomerate that has salary issue.
However, the man many see as ‘Corporate Bully’, said he’s ready to deal with
the problem from that moment.
In line with that, Ibrahim, shunned
the rules of contract in corporate governance and sacked Bolu Afolayan, the
managing director of Newswatch Media Ltd. He went on to appoint on the spot Mr.
Demola Abimboye as the new managing director.
Abimboye, a seasoned journalist and
until now editor of Newswatch Magazine, present at the conference, is expected
to turn around the fortune of both Newswatch Daily and the monthly magazine.
Culled From The News
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