By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
The unexplained delay by New Nigeria Development Company (NNDC) to pay workers of New Nigeria Newspaper (NNNs) and their benefits as approved by Northern Governors, has been condemned by Arewa Youths Movement for Good Governance (AYMGG).
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 issued by Northern Governors Forum to pay the workers.
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 beneficiary’s 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 NNNs 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 Nigeria Newspaper 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 111workers have already died waiting for this money, do NNDC want every body in New Nigeria Newspapers to die before they will pay? If NNDC has no capacity, why did they demanded 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 asked 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 sale New Nigerian Newspapers properties for the sole aim of paying New Nigerian Newspaper beneficiaries.
