NUJ, Nigerian Compass set up joint committee to harmonise salary dispute

In a bid to reconcile the dispute arising from the arrears of salary owed the ex-workers of Nigerian Compass newspaper, the company and the Nigerian Union of Journalists have set up a joint committee to harmonise the differences.
At a meeting held at the company’s premises on Friday, the union’s leadership, led by its National President, Mallam Garba Muhammed, engaged the management team of the Nigerian Compass, headed by Shina Kawonise, in a long battle.

Among those on the compass team were Kawonise; the Editor, Nigerian Compass, Gabriel Akinadewo; and the Manager, Administration, Yemi Adenuga.
Those who accompanied Muhammed to the meeting included his deputy, Prince Rotimi Obamuwagun; the National Secretary, Shuaib Leman; and the Lagos NUJ chairman, Deji Elumoye.
Sources at the meeting said argument arose because Kawonise was said to have initially taken an unfriendly posture before he was checked by the NUJ team.
A source said: “It was very clear to the team that Kawonise does not want to pay the ex-staff and the NUJ team had to make him realise that the only option they would have will be to shut down the company.
“No wonder he has been making promises and promises in the last few months about paying the salaries, allowances, taxes, cooperative deductions, pension funds and other sundry monies they are owing the ex-staff.
“It is a shame that a company that claims to be a part of the fourth estate of the realm can engage in such fraudulent practices.”
The pension fund is put at over N120 million while the tax is in the region of N40 million.
There is also eight months salary being owed the workers.
There is also close to N8 million Cooperative Society fund deducted from salaries of staff members but not remitted to the association.
While Adenuga and the Accountant of the Nigerian Compass are to represent their company, the NUJ is to make known its own representative on Monday. Sources said Elumoye is likely to lead the NUJ team.
The Company is owned by a former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel.